Emmanuel Macron hiding a cocaine pouch in viral video? French media calls claims 'absurd conspiracies'

A video of French President Emmanuel Macron hiding a white pouch of something went viral with wild claims that it was a cocaine pouch. But French media slammed the social media rumors and called them 'absurd conspiracies'. The video was taken when Macron was on a train heading to Ukraine. But he was not alone; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer were also there.

NEW: French media is shutting down social media rumors that French President Emmanuel Macron was caught with a bag of cocaine during a trip to Ukraine.

The moment was caught during a train ride from Poland to Ukraine when reporters entered the room.

Macron was meeting with the… pic.twitter.com/RMoKQ5VkUt

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 11, 2025

🚨DEVELOPING: Macron, Starmer, and Merz caught on video on their return from Kiev. A bag of white powder on the table. Macron quickly pockets it, Merz hides the spoon. No explanation given. Zelensky, known cocaine enthusiast, had just hosted them. Connect the dots. pic.twitter.com/aROGuf06Nm

— Dr. Simon Goddek (@goddeketal) May 11, 2025

Three men and a bag of white powder.

Notice how Macron sneakily and deftly swipes it out of the camera’s view.

The German chancellor Merz takes care of the spoon.

Can’t have people thinking they are plotting strategy while doing cocaine together pic.twitter.com/6IWcT8ZoNI

— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) May 11, 2025

On the way back from Kyiv, journalists unexpectedly entered the leaders’ cabin. German advisor Merz hid a spoon used for cocaine, while French President Macron concealed a bag of it. pic.twitter.com/NmlGXTncvE

— Tony Seruga (@TonySeruga) May 11, 2025

How did the rumor start?

According to a report by Turkiye Today, the rumour started by Russia's foreign ministry. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova indirectly alleged that Macron, Merz and Starmer shared drugs during their recent visit to Ukraine. The three leaders arrived in Kyiv on Friday to attend a series of high-level meetings and they traveled together from Poland -- which is a customary route for Western dignitaries.

The small pouch in question has been spotted in many photographs taken by the media on the train. But Macron discreetly removed the pouch, but there was a white object in front of Merz. Social media users called it the cocaine spoon.

Zakharova referenced the footage in a Telegram post, suggesting that “a Frenchman, an Englishman, and a German” had used cocaine and failed to remove the paraphernalia before journalists arrived. Zakharova’s statement also targeted Zelenskyy, describing him as an “unstable cocaine addict.” She claimed that a Western diplomat once told her drug use among European leaders was considered “normal.”

French media slams viral claims

French media Liberation said it was actually a handkerchief, which can be seen in high-quality photographs and the object in front of Merz could be a toothpick or a stirrer.

"These conspiracy accusations fit with the narrative that Western elites are depraved and approach war unconsciously," Liberation said.

"This is clearly not the case. High-quality photographs and videos, such as those taken by the AFP or AP news agencies , show that the mysterious bag of white powder is actually a handkerchief rolled into a ball that was placed on the table before Keir Starmer arrived and the cameras entered the booth, where Macron and Merz were already seated. The straw looks more like a stirrer or a toothpick, which the German chancellor is said to have been fiddling with," Liberation wrote, according to a translation.