Emmanuel Macron book alleges private messages sparked Hanoi incident, sparking denials
New book claims Emmanuel Macron row with Brigitte began over messages from actress Golshifteh Farahani, igniting Elysée denials and public debate.
A new book by political journalist Florian Tardif alleges that a private dispute between Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte escalated after the first lady saw messages on the president’s phone, the book claims. The volume, which has quickly become a bestseller in France, also revisits a widely circulated video from May 2025 showing Brigitte Macron confronting her husband as they disembarked in Hanoi. The book’s claims and the Elysée’s rebuttals have reignited debate over privacy, staff vetting and the public exposure of presidential family life.
Author’s claim about the phone message
Florian Tardif says the reported confrontation began when Brigitte Macron discovered messages on the president’s phone from Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani.
According to the author, the messages included compliments described in the book as “beautiful” and “wonderful,” which he argues were the immediate source of tension.
Tardif told a radio interviewer the messages led to a verbal altercation aboard the presidential plane en route to Vietnam before the airport incident.
He says his narrative is based on interviews with sources close to the president and that he verified the material before publication.
Details on the Hanoi airport clip and presidential response
The book revisits a clip from May 2025 showing Brigitte Macron making contact with the president as they prepared to leave the plane in Hanoi.
That video was widely shared on social media and prompted extensive media coverage in France and abroad.
At the time, Emmanuel Macron downplayed the episode, describing it as a private exchange or a brief domestic quarrel rather than an event of political consequence.
Tardif characterizes the moment as a customary marital scene but ties its origin to the phone messages he reports.
Claims about Elysée staffing and the trainee named “Shahrzad”
Tardif also alleges the first lady intervened in staffing decisions at the Elysée, citing the reported removal of a young trainee identified as “Shahrzad.”
The book says the trainee, in her twenties, was perceived by some Elysée officials as attempting to use charm to secure a role, prompting Brigitte Macron to push for her ouster.
The author adds that another adviser was later pushed out for similar reasons, and that the first lady sometimes exercised influence in final-stage recruitment interviews.
Sources quoted in the book describe a heightened sensitivity in the Elysée selection process when it involved proximity to the president.
Responses from Brigitte Macron’s circle and denials
Representatives close to Brigitte Macron have strongly denied the book’s central claims, insisting the first lady does not check the president’s phone.
Those associates told French media that Brigitte herself denied the specific account directly to the author in March, a rebuttal Tardif says was not included in the published text.
The Elysée has not issued a coordinated official statement addressing every allegation in the book, instead treating some elements as private matters or outright denials.
The divergence between the author’s sourcing and the first lady’s camp underscores the competing narratives now in public circulation.
Golshifteh Farahani’s previous rebuttals and public posture
Golshifteh Farahani, the Iranian-born actress named in the book, has repeatedly dismissed rumours linking her romantically to political figures.
She has told journalists in the past that such stories periodically surface and quickly dissipate, and that she pays them little attention.
Farahani, who left Iran and achieved international exposure after appearing in a 2008 Hollywood production, has been a target of tabloid coverage before and typically responds by denying speculative claims.
Tardif’s book reiterates the actress’s name in the context of alleged messages, but Farahani’s prior public statements suggest she rejects the implication of any personal relationship.
Sales, public reaction and political implications
The book has drawn strong public interest in France, quickly rising on bestseller lists and fueling debate on social media.
Observers say the episode highlights how personal stories can intersect with public perceptions of presidential authority and transparency.
Analysts caution that while the book may affect reputational narratives, attributing political consequences to private disputes remains speculative without corroborated evidence.
Legal and political commentators note the potential for defamation claims in highly personal accounts when sources disagree.
The publication of Florian Tardif’s book has reopened questions about privacy, influence and the management of close presidential circles, even as the Elysée and named individuals dispute key details. Public interest appears likely to continue as media outlets and political actors parse the allegations, leaving readers to weigh the competing accounts and await any further clarifications or official responses.