3 days ago
Watch: Macron mocks ‘slap' by wife with cheeky wave
Facing a whirlwind of rumours after a video captured what was later dubbed Le Slapgate, the Macrons have seemingly responded with a moment of self-deprecation.
Just before leaving the presidential plane, this time arriving in Indonesia, President Macron gave an ironic wave on Tuesday night — in what appeared to be a response to the 'crackpots' and 'loonies' who claimed that he had been shoved in the face by his wife.
As the plane door opens, only his hand can be seen waving, before he appears in front of the cameras in Jakarta laughing. He is then joined by his smiling wife Brigitte, who takes Macron's arm, and they walk down the steps arm in arm.
A presidential spin doctor said the wave was intended as a gesture of 'self-derision', although France Info radio station said it could be considered to be 'provocation'.
The gesture came after the first lady pushed her hands into her husband's face as they prepared to leave the French presidential aeroplane in Vietnam on the first leg of their Asian tour this week.
Her push, caught by television cameras, ignited speculation that the couple were in the midst of a row when the aeroplane door opened. As they walked down the steps from the plane in Vietnam, the first lady appeared to refuse to take her husband's arm. The Elysée initially claimed the video was a fake before accepting that it was genuine, but saying that it had been misinterpreted.
Speaking to reporters in Hanoi, Macron angrily dismissed claims he had been filmed in the midst of domestic spat. He said he and his wife had been 'larking around, or joking and I was taken by surprise. And it has become some kind of planetary catastrophe.'
He said the theories were being spread by malicious Russian social media accounts, which had also promoted fake reports that he had been caught with cocaine and engaged in a trial of strength during a handshake with President Erdogan of Turkey in recent weeks.
Macron said there were 'a lot of accounts, anonymous or not … including media commentators who have explained that I am undertaking the diplomacy of a beaten man. That tells you what crackpots they are.'
He added: 'There are a lot of loonies who spend their days … interpreting these videos.'
His arrival in Indonesia seemed designed to underline his point.
