French government dismisses Macron cocaine claims

A viral video has shown the French president seemingly hiding a small object, while posing with the UK’s Starmer and Germany’s Merz

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office has denied claims that he had a bag of cocaine with him during his weekend visit to Ukraine after social media users spotted what looked like the substance in a viral video.

In footage circulating on social media, Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer are seen posing for a photo while on a train to Kiev. The first few seconds show Macron subtly removing a crumpled white object from the table where the three are seated, while Merz appears to cover what social media users claimed looked like a cocaine spoon with his hands. Macron is then seen putting the object in his pocket, with multiple users noting he smiles guiltily while doing so.

The video has quickly gone viral and triggered widespread speculation online over whether the three officials were taking drugs during an official trip.