French President Emmanuel Macron’s office has decisively countered unfounded allegations that emerged following a high-level diplomatic meeting in Kyiv.
The controversy began during Macron’s recent summit with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, where the three leaders convened to discuss potential peace initiatives between Ukraine and Russia. A seemingly mundane action by the French President—removing a crumpled white object from the conference table—unexpectedly triggered widespread conjecture across social media platforms.
Online speculation rapidly escalated, with numerous Twitter users advancing baseless claims that Macron had been handling illicit substances during the official meeting. The unsubstantiated allegations spread quickly despite their improbable nature.
Addressing the situation directly, the Elysée Palace issued a forceful rebuttal on May 11, clarifying that the item in question was merely a tissue. The presidential office’s statement simultaneously dismissed the rumors while criticizing those perpetuating them: “When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs. This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation.”
While the statement referenced “France’s enemies” without specific attribution, it’s notable that Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova was among those who amplified the unverified claims online. The Elysée’s response included photographic evidence showing a close-up image of the tissue before Macron removed it from the table.
Despite this clarification, certain social media users persisted with their allegations, shifting their focus to question Macron’s handling of the tissue. Comments included speculative questions about the President’s movements and the alleged reactions of other attendees.
According to reports, the French presidency has adopted a more proactive approach toward misinformation. An unnamed Elysée official explained the strategy: “It’s by denying them when they emerge that we weaken them.”
This incident highlights the increasing challenge world leaders face in countering rapidly spreading misinformation, particularly when routine actions can be misrepresented and amplified through digital platforms.