Slap on the government plane. What could have angered Brigitte Macron?
In May 2025, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron arrived in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi on a government plane. Cameras recorded the First Lady sharply touching the French president's face with her hand. Many then perceived this gesture as a slap, although Emmanuel Macron himself later insisted that there was no quarrel between them. However, now the author of a book about the French president claims that the cause of the tension could have been Macron's flirtation with a famous actress.
Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron. Photo: Dan Kitwood / Getty Images
According to Paris Match journalist Florian Tardif, who wrote the book "(Almost) Perfect Couple" ("Un couple (presque) parfait"), Emmanuel Macron had maintained a "platonic relationship" with Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani for several months. The author heard about this repeatedly from people in the actress's entourage.
According to Tardif, the correspondence between the French president and Farahani was quite personal. The messages allegedly contained compliments regarding the actress's appearance, and the communication itself "went quite far." The quarrel on the plane allegedly occurred after Brigitte Macron read a message from the actress on the president's phone.
Brigitte Macron's entourage, on Wednesday, May 13, in a comment for Le Parisien, stated that the First Lady had categorically denied this version in a private conversation with the author of the book on March 5, emphasizing that she never looks into her husband's mobile phone. This detail, according to the Elysée Palace, was not even published by the author of the book.
Emmanuel Macron himself also insisted after the incident that there was no quarrel. The French President claimed that he and his wife were just joking, as they often do.
Golshifteh Farahani. Photo: Dominique Charriau / WireImage
As writes Tagesspiegel, Tardif's book also touches on the couple's relationship ahead of the end of Macron's second presidential term. According to the journalist, the couple has different visions for life after the Elysée Palace.
Brigitte Macron, who will soon turn 75, allegedly wants to dedicate more time to her children and grandchildren. According to Tardif, she dreams of a quiet life in a house by the sea. The president himself, on the other hand, has reportedly not abandoned political ambitions and is already considering the possibility of returning for the 2032 elections, if the French constitution allows him to run again.
The journalist also claims that Brigitte Macron's influence on her husband has noticeably weakened recently. While previously she was almost the only person who could openly criticize the president, now, according to Tardif, Macron listens to her opinion less and less.
The journalist also notes that the significant age difference between Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, which for a long time did not seem to be a problem, may now begin to affect their relationship.
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