The hidden side of Brigitte Macron: this is how her secret affair with the French president unfolded

Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte are back in the headlines with a surprising moment captured on video by Associated Press. The agency has published a video in which Brigitte Marie-Claude Macron (Amiens, 1953) slapped her husband upon their arrival in Vietnam. This isn't the first time this couple has sparked controversy on social media.

The French head of state is traveling with his partner through Southeast Asia to create new commercial relationships in the region. When the plane landed in Vietnam, Brigitte, who is 72 years old, could be seen making a harsh gesture, which has caused a major stir on the internet. The Élysée initially claimed that it was an artificial intelligence-caused montage, but later described it as a "minor quarrel."

This incident contrasts with the usual public displays of affection shown by the couple, who have been married for 17 years. Moreover, the first lady has played an important role in the presidential career. However, the story of how they met is also controversial: Emmanuel was 15 years old and Brigitte was 40, with three children and married.

Who is Brigitte Macron

Brigitte Marie-Claude Macron was born in Amiens in 1953 with the name Brigitte Marie-Claude Trogneux. The first lady belongs to the wealthy Trogneux family, owners of the popular chocolate shop Maison Jean Trogneux. 

Brigitte taught as a secondary school teacher in the 1980s at Collège Lucie-Berger in Strasbourg. In the 1990s, she taught French, theater, and Latin at Lycée la Providence in Amiens, where she met a student who would later become her husband, Emmanuel. She worked at the exclusive Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague in Paris until 2015, when Macron was already Minister of Economy.

Previous relationships

Before the president of France, Brigitte had been married since 1974 to banker André-Louis Auzière, who died in 2019 at 69 years old. The couple ended their relationship in 2006, but they had been separated since 1994. Three children were born from this marriage: Sébastien (1975), Laurence (1977), and Tiphaine (1984).

One year after the divorce, Brigitte and Emmanuel got married. They met in 1992 when the now president was 15 years old and was Brigitte's student in theater classes. Brigitte was 40 years old and was teaching the play El arte de la comedia by Eduardo De Filippo.

The romance with Emmanuel

The couple kept their love story secret for 10 years, with anonymous complaints to the school in the meantime. The first lady has stated at times that she didn't want to "ruin her children's lives". Macron's parents didn't like the idea either and sent him to study in Paris, at the prestigious Henri-IV.

According to the president in the documentary Emmanuel, la estrategia del meteoro by France 3, he promised her his return and marriage. So it was: after 13 years, they married in 2007 in a civil ceremony. At that time, Macron was already taking his first steps in politics with Parti Socialiste.

Brigitte has also had her flirtation with the world of politics. In 1989, she ran for the municipal council of Truchtersheim, unsuccessfully. Nevertheless, several media outlets highlight the role of emotional pillar that she has played for Macron throughout his political career.

Despite several accusations and hoaxes, such as an alleged relationship between the president and Mathieu Gallet, the marriage remains solid. The most frequent reason for mockery is the age difference, with Brigitte being called the "president's grandmother." Now, the media spotlight is focused on finding out the reason for that slap captured on video by Brigitte, who is 72 years old.