French president Emmanuel Macron, visiting Valence in southeastern France, walked over to the cordon to greet those present when a man who looked friendly at first slapped him down. Immediately after the attack, the security guards jumped on the attacker, arresting two men for the incident. According to reports, the man shouted, “Down with Macronism.”
The below video posted on Youtube shows the full incident. Video of the incident quickly went viral across Twitter and Facebook.
Macron’s security detail quickly intervene, as they pulled the man to the ground and took the president away from him. French BFM TV and RMC Radio reported that two people were arrested after the attack.
Macron’s likely chief opponent in next year’s presidential election, Marine Le Pen, also condemned the attack.
“It is inadmissible to physically attack the President of the Republic. I am the number one opponent of Emmanuel Macron, but he is the president: we can fight him politically, but we cannot afford the slightest violence towards him,” wrote Le Pen.
Macron giflé: pour Marine Le Pen, "il est inadmissible de s'attaquer physiquement au président de la République" pic.twitter.com/VAlROTrWmN
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) June 8, 2021
Macron suffered no injury from the slap, and remained in the area afterwards.
Title image: French President Emmanuel Macron talks with a man Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in Valence, southeastern France. French President Emmanuel Macron was slapped Tuesday in the face by a man during a visit to a small town in southeastern France, an incident that prompted a wide show of support for French politicians from all sides. (Philippe Desmazes, Pool via AP)
