A viral video appearing to show the French first lady slapping her husband President Emmanuel Macron has left viewers stunned and sparked a social media frenzy.

While some internet users are convinced the video showed a playful tap, or a clearly edited clip, others have seen it as rare glimpse into the French couple's perfectly polished image.

Speaking to reporters in Hanoi on Monday, Macron said that the incident had been overblown, insisting: 'I was bickering, or rather joking, with my wife. It's nothing.'

Earlier in the day, an Elysee official said: 'It was a moment when the president and his wife were relaxing one last time before the start of the trip by having a laugh... It was a moment of closeness.'

But some Parisians appear to disagree, and are struggling to see the humour in the interaction.