Macron says video of wife pushing him in face does not show them quarrelling
The video, shot by an Associated Press camera operator, shows the French president appearing in the doorway of the plane at the start of a visit to Hanoi. His wife's hand appears to shove him, causing him to step back before recovering and waving.
Brigitte's body is not visible and there is no way of knowing whether the gesture was playful, as Macron told reporters afterwards, or part of an argument between the couple – as the spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry suggested.
Maria Zakharova said on Telegram the president had received 'a right hook' from his wife. 'Did the first lady decide to cheer up her husband with a gentle pat on the cheek and miscalculated her strength?' she asked in a mocking post.
'Did she want to fix his collar but ended up reaching the beloved face?' Zakharova added, after the Russia Today TV channel and associated social media accounts had repeatedly aired the clip. 'Here's a hint: maybe it was the 'hand of the Kremlin'.'
Macron told reporters in Hanoi that he and his wife were 'joking around, as we do quite often'. An Élysée Palace official told French media the scene showed 'a moment of closeness. But that was enough to feed the conspiracy theorists.'
Another Elysée source said the couple were 'decompressing one last time before the start of the visit, larking around'. Macron 'loves playing jokes like on his wife before official occasions, and she always responds like this … It wasn't even a slap.'
Macron noted that other videos of him had been misinterpreted. People have though 'I shared a bag of cocaine, tussled with the Turkish president, now that I'm having a domestic dispute with my wife … None of this is true. Everyone needs to calm down.'
Zakharova and the US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones this month wrongly accused Macron, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, of using drugs on a train to Kyiv, claiming a crumpled tissue was a bag of cocaine.
Macron told reporters in Hanoi the internet accounts making the claims were 'familiar', allying Russians with French extremists, adding that commentators had explained this morning that 'my diplomacy was that of a battered husband'.
France and Vietnam on Monday signed deals on Airbus planes, defence and other pacts worth €9bn (£7.55bn) as Macron and his wife embarked on the first formal visit by a French presidential couple to the country's former colony in nearly a decade.
The deals with Vietnam come amid trade turmoil sparked by US president Donald Trump's tariffs and cover the purchase of 20 Airbus planes, cooperation on nuclear energy, defence, rail and maritime transport, satellites and vaccines.
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The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
This is no time for Britain to recognise Palestine
Although some 140 nations now recognise Palestine as a sovereign state, France is the first G7 member to take this decisive, historic step. It is, in truth, a purely symbolic move, given the savage reaction to it in Tel Aviv and the contemptuous statement in response issued by the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio. It comes as Gaza is stalked by famine, something that has moved emotions across the world, though Emmanuel Macron did not specifically mention the starvation crisis taking the lives of innocent civilians. The French president clearly believes that, at this juncture, some dramatic gesture is necessary, and it will be formally declared by him at the United Nations General Assembly next month. In many quarters, it will be warmly welcomed. It also adds to the growing domestic political pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to follow suit. But the arguments are more finely balanced than is sometimes apparent to people on all sides of this issue. For the moment – and at this particular moment, when Donald Trump is arriving in Scotland for informal talks with the prime minister – the UK should not follow the example of the French. Given Sir Keir's unusually warm personal relationship with President Trump, he is at least more likely than the French president to be able to exert some pressure on the Americans to persuade Israel to end the hunger, arrange a ceasefire, and set the initial conditions for progress towards peace, unlikely as that may feel now. Had the British government immediately recognised full Palestinian statehood, Mr Trump would probably have addressed Sir Keir in similar, if not earthier, terms to those used by Secretary Rubio about the French: 'This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.' As a matter of fact, the diplomatic recognition of Palestine by France and other countries has been prompted more by the way in which Israel has conducted its war in Gaza, and failed to control illegal settlement in the West Bank, than by any desire to appease Hamas terrorists. If, in other words, Israel's military invasion had concluded by, say, the end of 2023, and there'd been no famine or systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, France and the others would not have felt impelled to 'do something'; to recognise Palestine while there is still something to recognise. And President Macron was careful to make his announcement to Palestine's president Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority, and not to Hamas. He also, correctly, demanded the return of the hostages. Britain was the last colonial power in Palestine, and for Britain to recognise its independence would, arguably, have a particular political impact. But it would not, realistically, make much difference on the ground today. Bluntly, it would not save the life of a single Palestinian infant suffering from chronic malnutrition, whereas pressure from President Trump on Tel Aviv at least carries some prospect of opening up access for humanitarian aid. Such limited diplomatic leverage as post-Brexit Britain possesses in this region must of necessity be used to the best advantage of the people of Palestine. So, heartbreaking as the striking images coming out of Gaza undoubtedly are – and they stand as prima facie evidence of war crimes – Sir Keir should resist the pressure to take this step, because it would make zero difference now, and could well make matters worse. Gestures that bring change and are well-timed are more useful to the Palestinians than are the futile variety. That said, the prime minister will find it difficult to manage his party on this issue, once the Commons reassembles and he must face the Labour conference. A substantial number of his backbench MPs have already openly declared that the UK must recognise Palestine. This sentiment is reflected in other parties, including among some Conservatives, as is also evidenced in the latest report by the foreign affairs select committee. Some of Sir Keir's senior colleagues, such as Wes Streeting and Peter Kyle, have made little secret of their own impatience about the recognition of Palestinian statehood. The foreign secretary, David Lammy, may not be far behind; he is plainly exhausted by having to stick to the government's line. The trend points to Sir Keir being defeated on the Palestine question in the Commons and at his own party conference. Given that diplomacy sits firmly within the royal prerogative, such votes cannot force him to do anything, outside making an extraordinary 'humble address' to the monarch to instruct his ministers to do so. Yet such manoeuvrings would weaken his already diminished authority further. In defence, Sir Keir can also point to the text of the Labour manifesto commitment, much referred to, which is deliberately ambiguous and does not pledge immediate recognition: 'We are committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.' For the moment, the prime minister is not alone in the G7 – Germany has also declined to join with France – and he does have support in the House, including from most of the Conservatives. However, on Palestine, as with welfare reform and much else, he will need to work harder than ever this autumn to win the argument.
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Trump: Macron's words on Palestinian state do not matter
'doesn't matter,' President Donald Trump said after the French president announced he would recognise the war-torn territory as a state. The US president hit out at Mr Macron saying that although he was a 'good guy… it's not going to change anything'. The French president pledged to formally acknowledge Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, prompting fury from Israel and allies including the US. 'What he says doesn't matter,' Mr Trump told reporters at the White House, ahead of boarding a flight to the UK to visit his golf courses. 'He's a very good guy. I like him, but that statement doesn't carry weight.' The president continued: 'Look, he's a different kind of a guy. He's okay. He's a team player, pretty much. But here's the good news: What he says doesn't matter. It's not going to change anything.' Mr Macron had argued his move to recognise Palestinian statehood was the only path to ending the war in Gaza and bringing security to the Middle East. However, Charlie Kushner, the recently-confirmed US ambassador to France, called the move a 'gift to Hamas and a blow to peace'. Mr Kushner, whose son, Jared, is Mr Trump's son-in-law, continued: 'I'm deeply disappointed. [Mr Macron] – I hope to change your mind before September. 'Free the hostages,' he said, referring to the individuals taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct 7 massacre in Israel. 'Focus on a ceasefire. This is the path to lasting peace.' Mr Macron was slated by hard-Right Dutch MP Geert Wilders. Sharing a map of France with the tip on the south east shaded in red, he said: Here will be the new Palestinian State. Big parts of France are already islamic anyway. Good luck @EmmanuelMacron and France! Happy suicide! The Netherlands will close its borders immediately. — Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) July 25, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has come under pressure from the Scottish Labour leader to immediately recognise Palestine as a state. Anas Sarwar made the demand shortly before the Prime Minister held emergency talks with his French and German counterparts about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. He also claimed Mr Netanyahu had broken international law and accused him of having 'no interest' in a peaceful resolution to his country's war with Hamas. Cabinet ministers and dozens of backbench Labour MPs also piled pressure on the Government to recognise the state of Palestine straight away. Sir Keir's current position is that although the Palestinian people have an 'inalienable right' to their own state, this should only come as part of a wider peace process after a ceasefire in the region. In a social media video on Friday afternoon, Mr Sarwar said: 'I have long supported the immediate recognition of the state of Palestine and continue to do so. 'But whilst pressing for that, we must see the end of the war right now. What we're seeing on our screens and in our social media feeds is intolerable, unjustifiable and heartbreaking. The mass starvation of a population, the innocent killing of innocent civilians and the destruction of infrastructure. 'That's why we need an immediate ceasefire, we need the free flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, we need to see the end of illegal occupation and the pathway to a two-state solution.' He went on to call for the release of the 50 remaining Israeli hostages who are still being held in captivity by Hamas. Going further in his criticisms of Mr Netanyahu than Sir Keir, Mr Sarwar added: 'Tragically, so many of us feel powerless when we look at the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu and his Israeli government. 'It's clear to me that Benjamin Netanyahu is in breach of international humanitarian law, that he has no interest in peace and he cares more about staying in power and out of jail than doing the right things by his citizens.' Mr Sarwar's video was published just before Sir Keir held crisis talks with Mr Macron and Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor. In a statement on the eve of the talks, Sir Keir condemned the 'unspeakable and indefensible' suffering of Palestinians and called it a 'humanitarian catastrophe' amid warnings by the UN of famine and mass starvation. 'Humanitarian aid must be the priority' Peter Kyle, the Science Secretary, said on Friday that he 'desperately' wanted to see Palestine recognised as a state amid growing pressure from Sir Keir's own front bench for him to do so. The Telegraph understands that Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, is among Cabinet ministers who want the Prime Minister to pivot to a policy of immediate recognition. According to the Guardian, Mr Streeting's view is shared by Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary. Speaking on Thursday night, Ms Mahmood said that while British recognition of Palestine would have 'multiple benefits' and send a 'strong message' to Israel, the immediate priority must be delivering aid to Gaza. Bloomberg later reported that Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, also wants to see Palestine recognised straight away. The Government last month sanctioned two Israeli ministers over their comments about the war in Gaza in a significant break with Mrtw Trump and the US. Itamar Ben-Gvir, the hard-Right Israeli security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the ultra-nationalist finance minister, had their assets frozen and have been banned from entering the UK.
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Reuters
US lifts some Myanmar sanctions after general asked Trump for relief
WASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters) - The United States lifted sanctions designations on several allies of Myanmar's ruling generals on Thursday, two weeks after the head of the ruling junta praised President Donald Trump and called for an easing of sanctions in a letter responding to a tariff warning. Human Rights Watch called the move "extremely worrying" and said it suggested a major shift was underway in U.S. policy towards Myanmar's military, which overthrew a democratically elected government in 2021 and has been implicated in crimes against humanity and genocide. The U.S. Treasury Department did not give a reason for the move, but Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender said in a statement: "Anyone suggesting these sanctions were lifted for an ulterior motive is uninformed and peddling a conspiracy theory driven by hatred for President Trump." "Individuals, including in this case, are regularly added and removed from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) in the ordinary course of business," he said in a statement. A notice from the U.S. Treasury Department said KT Services & Logistics and its founder, Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung; the MCM Group and its owner Aung Hlaing Oo; and Suntac Technologies and its owner Sit Taing Aung; and another individual, Tin Latt Min, were being removed from the U.S. sanctions list. KT Services & Logistics and Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung were added to the sanctions list in January 2022 under the Biden administration in a step timed to mark the first anniversary of the military seizure of power in Myanmar that plunged the country into chaos. Sit Taing Aung and Aung Hlaing Oo were placed on the sanctions list the same year for operating in Myanmar's defence sector. Tin Latt Min, identified as another close associate of the military rulers, was placed on the list in 2024 to mark the third anniversary of the coup. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. On July 11, Myanmar's ruling military general, Min Aung Hlaing, asked Trump in a letter for a reduction in the 40% tariff rate on his country's exports to the U.S. and said he was ready to send a negotiating team to Washington if needed. "The senior general acknowledged the president's strong leadership in guiding his country towards national prosperity with the spirit of a true patriot," state media said at the time. In his response to a letter from Trump notifying Myanmar of the tariff to take effect on August 1, Min Aung Hlaing proposed a reduced rate of 10% to 20%, with Myanmar slashing its levy on U.S. imports to a range of zero to 10%. Min Aung Hlaing also asked Trump "to reconsider easing and lifting the economic sanctions imposed on Myanmar, as they hinder the shared interests and prosperity of both countries and their peoples." Myanmar is one of the world's main sources of sought-after rare earth minerals used in high-tech defense and consumer applications. Securing supplies of the minerals is a major focus for the Trump administration in its strategic competition with China, which is responsible for 90% of rare earth processing capacity. Most of Myanmar's rare earth mines are in areas controlled by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), an ethnic group fighting the junta, and are processed in China. Representative Ami Bera, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Asia subcommittee in a statement to Reuters called the decision to lift sanctions against the individuals "a bad idea" that "goes against our values of freedom and democracy.' John Sifton, Asia advocacy director of Human Rights Watch, called the U.S. move "shocking" and its motivation unclear. "The action suggests a major shift is underway in U.S. policy, which had centered on punitive action against Myanmar's military regime, which only four years ago carried out a coup d'etat against a democratically elected government and is implicated in crimes against humanity and genocide," he said in an emailed statement.
