A seemingly tense exchange between French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron drew attention during their recent state visit to the United Kingdom.
As the couple disembarked their aircraft in West London, cameras caught President Macron extending his hand to help his wife down the steps. To the surprise of many, Brigitte Macron bypassed his gesture, choosing instead to steady herself with the handrail.
The French leader quickly withdrew his hand and went on to greet Princess of Wales, who was waiting on the tarmac.
Social media users were quick to react, with many citing a similar incident in May during a Vietnam visit, where Brigitte was seen gently pushing her husband’s face aside while exiting the plane.
Later footage from the car ride to their first engagement showed Brigitte Macron focused on her phone, while the president sat beside her without visible interaction.
While such moments can be dismissed as brief and possibly misunderstood, they’ve nonetheless sparked online speculation about the Macrons’ body language and relationship dynamics.