French President Macron was slapped in the face today by a man in a crowd of onlookers, during his visit to the south-eastern Drome region to talk to locals about life getting back to normal after Covid-19.
The slapper in question, who was standing at the front of the crowd, drew Macron in for what seemed like a cordial handshake, before hitting the masked President with his other hand. The altercation ended there, as Macron’s security entourage wasted no time in pouncing on the aggressor and bundling him to the ground.
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During the clash, another member of the crowd was heard shouting “Down with Macronia” (“A Bas La Macronie”). The attacker himself exclaimed “Montjoie Saint Denis”, which was the battle cry of the French armies back when the country was a monarchy.
The incident will worry French security agencies and those charged with guarding the President who was promptly whisked away from the scene.
Two men were later arrested. Both the identity and the motives of the man who slapped him remain unclear.
