French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to be playfully pushed in the face by his wife Brigitte upon arriving in Vietnam on May 25. According to the Associated Press, Macron later stated that they were just joking around, aiming to quell rumors of marital discord.

In a widely circulated video, Brigitte seems to lightly push her husband before their presidential aircraft landed, causing him to step back momentarily, though he regained his composure and waved to the cameras on the tarmac.

Following the incident, Brigitte briefly remained inside the aircraft, obscuring the view. The couple, who married in 2007, descended the plane together, and Brigitte did not link arms with her husband.

In Hanoi, Macron told reporters, “I was just bantering with my wife. It’s nothing serious.” He also warned about the potential for social media footage to be distorted. He referenced a recent video circulating online that insinuated he had taken a crumpled white object during a visit to Ukraine, which some users unfoundedly suggested was a bag of cocaine. Macron clarified that it was simply a tissue, and his office accused opponents in France of spreading fake news.

Earlier on Monday, an official from the Élysée Palace referred to the latest video, stating, “This was the last relaxed, joyful moment for the president and his wife before starting their visit.”