The internet is many things — an endless scroll of dog videos, your aunt’s all-caps Facebook rants, and, occasionally, a bubbling cauldron of political absurdity. Case in point: A moment caught on camera showing French President Emmanuel Macron getting visibly (and possibly playfully) shoved in the face by none other than his wife, Brigitte Macron. v186n

Macron laughed off the embarrassing moment, but not before it birthed one of the dumbest conspiracy theories of 2025: that Macron has been replaced by a body double.

“A few texture bugs” 35721y

Yes, really. One post said, translated from French, “Emmanuel Macron is a doppelganger, let me explain. He has a human appearance but with a few texture bugs. He speaks random French but managed to get elected twice, and he doesn’t look at all like the original Emmanuel Macron of 2017.”

“A sloppy 2nd to the OG” 5g3y3o

This bizarre theory was enough to catch the attention of Adam Kinzinger, the former Republican congressman turned anti-MAGA crusader, who dunked on the madness in a tweet that perfectly captured the collective eye-roll of rational humans everywhere.

Kinzinger, one of the last sane Republicans standing, couldn’t help but weigh in. Quote-tweeting one of the more unhinged posts dissecting the alleged body double’s grooming routine, Kinzinger wrote: “So what kind of politics do you think someone who is claiming Macron has a body double subscribes to?” (Spoiler alert: It rhymes with “shmaga.”)

Brigitte’s shove becomes MAGA’s latest fantasy 5t6146

Let’s rewind. During what looked like a casual public appearance, cameras captured Brigitte reaching out and — with what can only be described as married-couple energy — giving her husband a quick shove in the face. Was she annoyed, joking, or was she trying to remove a stray eyelash? Who knows.

What we do know is that in MAGA circles, the moment instantly morphed into something much darker. Suddenly, X was flooded with posts analyzing Macron’s face like it was the Zapruder film. Musk’s platform was already filled with conspiracies that Brigitte was born a man, or even possibly Macron’s uncle or father.

The fact that the “shove” came from his wife? Ignored. Because if there’s one thing conspiracy theorists are great at, it’s missing the point entirely.

Kinzinger brings the fire and sarcasm 6o235j

Kinzinger’s tweet was more than just a well-placed jab. It was a reminder of just how far down the rabbit hole some political factions have gone — a place where every blurry video is proof of a globalist coup and every wife’s face shove is a cover-up for a state-sanctioned doppelgänger swap. And if your takeaway from a wife goofing around with her husband is that the Illuminati is involved? Maybe log off. Seriously.

Looks like Emmanuel Macron is in the doghouse. Earlier today, the President of was disembarking his plane in Vietnam when cameras caught something that was very much intended to stay private. As per a video shared on TikTok, he’s about to leave the plane when a red-sleeved hand emerges and gives him a rough slap/shove to the face.

Moments later, Macron emerges alongside his wife Brigitte, revealing that she was the one who delivered the quick blow to his head. Check it out:

Okay, but did you guys SEE @EmmanuelMacron's wife literally push his face like she was swatting a fly? Like she thought she was invisible or something nd Macron just laughed it off, shaking hands like, ‘No big deal, just got publicly slapped by my wife, move along. pic.twitter.com/6A3U51hTLX

— 𝐉𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐧 ✪ (@jadoon_993) May 26, 2025

So, what’s going on here? We’re no body language experts, but it seems clear that there was some kind of dispute between the couple taking place on the plane. Macron looks shocked for a moment, but spots the camera and quickly smiles and waves, and disappears off-screen. The two emerge side-by-side soon after, and both look a little tense.

Macron has since tried to laugh this off saying: “We are horsing around and, really, joking with my wife” and insisting the incident is being overblown, “It becomes a sort of geo-planetary catastrophe.” Strange kind of “horsing around,” and he doesn’t really seem to be enjoying it.

The Macron marriage 1c2r18

15 yr-old Emmanuel Macron with his teacher and future wife Brigitte Macron. pic.twitter.com/EvtM0XQAII

— LogKa (@LogKa11) January 6, 2025

It perhaps should be noted that this is a rather… odd marriage. The pair first met when Macron was 15 years old and she was his 40-year-old drama teacher. It appears that even then there was a romantic connection, with him later describing their relationship as “a love often clandestine, often hidden, misunderstood by many before imposing itself.” She says she “was totally charmed by his intelligence” and insists this child “wasn’t like the others”.

Now look. A 40-year-old teacher getting into a romantic relationship with a 15-year-old boy is not good! But, on the other hand, this IS , so who knows? Either way, Emmanuel and Brigitte have clearly found a way to make it work, as they’ve been married for 18 years.

Whether that’s “happily” married or not is anyone’s guess, but judging by this video, the image they present for the cameras may be somewhat different from what’s going on behind closed doors.

After dealing with decades of loud tourists in Hawaiian shirts fumbling through their language, the French have finally reached their breaking point.

According to a recent poll conducted by the Elabe Institute for BFM TV, nearly three-quarters of French people — yes, 73% — no longer consider America an ally. This alarming statistic didn’t just pop up out of nowhere. It’s the product of months, even years, of increasingly bizarre and divisive foreign policy moves by the U.S. president, Donald Trump.

and America have long shared one of history’s most fascinating friendships stretching back nearly 250 years. Indeed, the United States might never have existed if not for French during America’s War of Independence. It was , under King Louis XVI, that sent troops, ships, and critical funds to the struggling American colonies in their desperate fight against the British Empire.

The Marquis de Lafayette famously became a close confidant of George Washington, fighting bravely alongside American soldiers, and eventually becoming a celebrated hero on both sides of the Atlantic. And, of course, gifted the United States the Statue of Liberty, a towering symbol of friendship and shared democratic ideals — one that has welcomed millions of immigrants to America’s shores and remains a potent icon of America’s promise.

Throughout the years, despite occasional friction and cultural misunderstandings — such as American confusion at French films featuring tragic endings or ’s understandable horror at American cheese-in-a-can — the two nations stood shoulder-to-shoulder through historical upheavals: World War I trenches, the beaches of Normandy, and the Cold War struggle against Soviet authoritarianism. Yet, today, this transatlantic relationship finds itself severely strained.

Late last month, the world watched in disbelief as Trump publicly berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, accusing him of being insufficiently grateful and “playing with World War III.” This spectacle left roughly 75% of French respondents “shocked,” with 39% describing themselves as “very shocked,” according to the Elabe poll.

Only 8% blamed Zelensky, while 59% held Trump directly responsible for the incident, and 19% figured both leaders shared the blame. Zelensky, for his part, remains well-liked in , boasting a 65% approval rating — pretty good numbers, considering the French are notoriously stingy with their praise. Trump, however, enjoys an 80% negative rating, just a tad better than Vladimir Putin’s 86%. Way to go, Donald.

And while we’re on the subject of Putin, it’s worth noting that Trump recently halted vital military aid to Ukraine, claiming Ukraine ing NATO is a “red line” for Moscow. Interesting how Trump’s foreign policy strangely aligns with Russian talking points. But hey, according to esteemed geopolitical expert Marjorie Taylor Greene, Russians aren’t really the bad guys we’ve seen in Hollywood movies.

Between praising Putin and calling Zelenskyy a “dictator,” Trump seems intent on isolating America from longstanding allies. At least he’s keeping busy with his bold real estate ambitions — trying to purchase Greenland, threatening to annex Canada as America’s 51st state, and promising to transform Gaza into prime waterfront condos. Trump’s erratic actions fuel legitimate fears among the French public. According to Elabe’s survey, 76% fear the Ukrainian conflict will extend beyond Ukraine’s borders, with a stable 64% worrying itself could eventually be dragged into the fray.

At the end of the day, the French have a knack for spotting trouble before it happens. They were skeptical of the Iraq War, and they were right. They were wary of unchecked capitalism, and now we’re watching corporations write the rules. So, when the majority of the French people say they no longer see the U.S. as an ally, maybe it’s time to listen.

Another week has gone by in Donald Trump’s America, and it’s becoming crystal clear that this istration learned some serious lessons about being proactive. Trump’s last cabinet was filled with plenty of loyalists, but stacked among the sycophants were a who’s who of established politicians and civil servants keen to serve the country, not the president. This time around, Trump’s team is axing everyone who won’t get in line. From independent watchdogs and nuclear specialists to intelligence officials and park rangers, it’s “my way or the highway” in Trump land — but with Elon Musk around, it’s hard to know just whose way we’re going.

One thing’s for sure: the billionaires are all on board. They’re quietly axing DEI programs and not-so-quietly transforming papers like the Washington Post into their own personal propaganda machines as the dollar signs shine through their soulless eyes. At least we have Americans like Adam Kinzinger to take up the mantle of speaking truth to power. Just like long-time Musk hater Azealia Banks, he’s more than willing to stoop to Trump’s childish level. It’s truly magical to have someone like Kinzinger say, “Hey, so this is insane,” as Trump employs actual podcasters to work for the FBI and his right-hand men throw Nazi salute after Nazi salute just to test the waters.

Canadians across the border are fed up with Trump’s constant taunts, refusing to buy American and even pushing for the government to nix Musk’s citizenship. Allies around the world are showing they have no tolerance this time around, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling out Trump’s lies on live television, prompting the septuagenarian to pout like a schoolboy. But don’t feel bad for ‘ol Don. History has shown that the man doesn’t understand metaphors. Despite the valiant attempts of the U.S. Army Corps to convey the heavy-handed messages of Les Misérables, Trump was as impacted as a Republican asked to show empathy toward trans people.

But hey, at least eggs are only $20 a carton.

Pot, meet Kettle. You’re now heading the FBI together. z4o4g

It is said that Kash Patel, the new Trump-appointed FBI Director who will also head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), intended not to break FBI tradition – and trample on basic good judgment – and promised to appoint someone with experience (unlike himself) within the Bureau to be its deputy director.

Psych! As has been the norm in this second istration, instead of someone with proven competence, we got a partisan Trump loyalist who is all too happy parroting MAGA conspiracy theories and gets way too aroused by the sheer idea of absolute power: Dan Bongino.

Exactly what we needed: more one-track MAGA militants in positions of power in the American government, whose moral comes guide them wherever Trump’s chubby orange finger points. In a 2021 New Yorker profile that now reads in a painfully ironic manner, Evan Osnos writes: “Pete Hegseth, a fellow Fox News host who served in the National Guard, told me, “I carried a rifle in the military, and now I get to serve in information warfare.” Bongino, he added, “is one of our generals.”

As another Trump “general,” Bongino has dedicated the past years to pushing conspiracy theories about the “anti-Trump” “deep state” and the 2020 election being “rigged.” There is no escape from the heavy irony that the podcaster wrote a book called Follow the Money, which feels like a discount, propaganda-based, misinformation-ridden, far-right version of the invaluable Manufacture of Consent. Bongino’s big boss is a billionaire who is hand-in-hand with the world’s richest man so, I guess we only “follow the money” if we can someway, somehow, blame it on Democrats, minorities, and now, Ukraine too.

Bongino and Patel go together like Beavis and Butt-Head, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, or SpongeBob and Patrick. You can count on both to ask “How far?” upon being commanded to overstep the bounds of legality for the sake of the Trump agenda.

We’re one month and two Nazi salutes into the Trump istration 6s4p3j

It seems those Democrat challenges for Republicans to indulge in — as the right sees it — Elon Musk’s unfortunate and enthusiastic wave have really hit home. Average Trump-thumpers across the country are throwing out Sieg Heil salutes to prove it’s “no big deal” only to lose their jobs, but Trump’s cronies miraculously weasel out of consequences every time. Steve Bannon is just the latest henchman to test the boundaries of tolerance by throwing out a half-hearted Nazi salute while speaking at the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference, signaling to the world that fascism is A-OK in America.

Two Trump allies throwing out the notorious salute isn’t many, but any red-blooded American knows that the only thing worse than one Nazi is two. They’re like an infection, one best wiped out — or punched right in the face if my days of frequenting punk rock shows are any guideline.

Bannon tossed the salute near the end of his speech after calling for Trump to make an unconstitutional bid for a third term and telling MAGA to “fight.” The human pimple didn’t seem to relish throwing Hitler’s favorite hello as much as Musk, which might actually make it worse. If you’re going to sell out your country to one of the most anti-American movements this nation has ever seen, at least do it with your chest.

The audience may have been less enthusiastic for Bannon than it was for the Tesla CEO, but acceptance of the movement and everything it stands for is beyond evident. We’d like to remind our readers of the Paradox of Tolerance here: if we tolerate those who are intolerant, we risk enabling them. And if those intolerant people ever make it to positions of power, they will obliterate those they oppose. If you need any evidence, 1930s is a great place to start.

To get the rest of the tea, which this week includes a wave of verbal slap-downs from Adam Kinzinger, Trump’s uncomfortable obsession with world leaders, and the slow strangulation of the Fourth Estate, be sure to sign up for WGTC’s They Said What?! Newsletter.

Donald Trump is famously obsessed with trying to physically dominate anyone he comes in with. Multiple world leaders have had to deal with a purposefully aggressive handshake combined with a sharp elbow tug, to the point where people rehearse the ‘Trump squeeze’ with a stand-in before they actually meet him.

French President Emmanuel Macron is better at this handshake game than most, to the point that whenever the two men meet there’s anticipation as to how far they’ll go. Judging by previous footage Macron’s tactic is to simply mirror Trump: reaching for his elbow or maintaining tightly clasped hands for as long as possible.

On Monday, Feb. 24, the pair had a particularly tense meeting over Russia’s war in Ukraine at the White House. Over the past week, Trump has proved terrifyingly willing to cozy up to Vladimir Putin and his ambitions to carve up Ukraine for its resources, a move that’s sent Europe into panic mode as they face the very real concept of Russia hungrily eyeing more territory.

Despite Macron and Trump being politically at odds, the two tend to get along due to Macron’s winning tactic of disagreeing and fact-checking Trump while also smiling and complimenting him. One might even call it something of a love-in. But, in a bizarre twist, Trump just had to take things too far:

LMAOOO, look at President Macron prying trump's tiny little mitt off of his knee.

WTF is even happening here?pic.twitter.com/8WoPK2GhPN

— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) February 24, 2025

After Macron briefly touched Trump’s leg, Trump quickly responded by gripping Macron’s knee. Macron reached down to grab Trump’s wrist and appeared to have to forcefully pry the hand away from him. Macron was clearly exerting some effort, but Trump pushed back and ended the bizarre interaction with a little slap on Macron’s knee.

I’m no body language expert, but it’s clear that Trump interpreted Macron casually touching him as a power play that must be responded to immediately, so his forcing his hand onto his knee even as it’s shoved away theoretically sends the message that Trump is the man in charge here. Let’s face it, it’s kinda weird that two of the most powerful men in the world are interacting with each other like apes jockeying to become an alpha male, but politics is the law of the jungle…

Responses indicate that Trump came off the loser in this interaction:

Agreed.

That's because he IS weak.

— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) February 24, 2025

Get DOGE on the line immediately:

He should put this in the email to Musk – a list of tasks he accomplished last week.

— Elna (@ElnaMbioi62) February 24, 2025

And it’s an oldie but, let’s face it, a goodie:

Ohh, very nice! pic.twitter.com/qLxVuiE2JW

— windriderz49 (@windriderz49) February 24, 2025

Given that Trump and Macron’s physical interactions seem to be escalating, we can’t help but wonder where the pair will go from here. Perhaps the next time they meet we’ll see the unedifying spectacle of the two men wrestling on the floor under the watchful eyes of Secret Service agents. Meanwhile, other world leaders should begin taking notes on what to do when their Trump encounter arrives, as the president has zero concern for personal boundaries and those hands can and will go everywhere.