Video claiming to show Macron snubbing Modi is misleading
Livestream footage from the event shows that Macron and Modi had shaken hands moments before the apparent snub
CLAIM
A video widely shared on social media appears to show French President Emmanuel Macron ignoring India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Paris AI Action summit earlier this month.
BACKGROUND
On February 11 and 12, France hosted the Paris AI Action summit attended by heads of state, leaders of international organisations, CEOs, NGOs, and representatives from the private sector and civil society to discuss AI development.
During the summit, rumours circulated online that Macron has snubbed Modi after a video appeared to show the French president ignoring Modi and refusing to shake his hand.
The video clip was shared by numerous sources including Russia’s state news agency Sputnik along with the caption:
“Macron demonstratively ignored Indian Prime Minister Modi and did not shake his hand at the AI summit in Paris”.
The social media outlet Clash Report also shared the video with the caption:
“Sorry not sorry: French President Emmanuel Macron greeted world leaders but did not shake hands with Indian PM Narendra Modi, despite Modi’s attempts at the Paris AI Summit”.
The video was posted on the Instagram account of the Indian National Congress which has 7 million followers and received 117,175 likes at the time of publishing.
The video was shared numerous times by social media users.
“What’s wrong with Macron?” One user wrote while another said the behaviour was “not acceptable.”
“No one has the right to insult India at an international forum,” they added.
METHOD
According to French authorities, the Paris AI Action summit was co-chaired by France and India, requiring a close working relationship between the two countries and their leaders. An obvious and deliberate snub on the first day of the conference would therefore be unlikely.
The day before the conference, Macron greeted Modi and welcomed him and U.S .Vice President JD Vance, sharing a video on his social media accounts. Modi also shared several photos of the two leaders together on the first morning of the conference. The following day, they attended a World War I memorial together, suggesting not only an amicable relationship between the two but also that the video of the apparent snub may lack context.
A Google search led us to several livestreams of the event on YouTube including Indian television channel CNN-News18 and Firstpost. The livestreams provided us with a wider context, showing Macron and Modi shaking hands before entering the venue together. Macron and Modi then walk in, side by side. The two leaders then separate and the camera stays with Macron, who shakes numerous hands, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance who is next to Modi. Macron leans over to shake hands with someone positioned behind Modi. Modi, apparently mistaking the gesture for one directed at him, reaches out to return the handshake in error.
RATING
Content posted by both Macron and Modi before, during, and after the summit suggests an amicable relationship, not in line with the idea that the French leader deliberately snubbed the Indian prime minister. Livestream footage from the event shows that Macron and Modi had shaken hands moments before the apparent snub, suggesting that Modi mistakenly interpreted Macron’s outreached hand and momentarily reached out to shake it, leading to the unfortunate incident.
SOURCES
Odnoklassniki,(2025). Available at: Радио Sputnik [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
X (formerly Twitter). (2025). Available at: Sorry not sorry: [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
X (formerly Twitter). (2025). Available at: This behaviour is not acceptable [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
Instagram (2025). Available at: incindia [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
Ministere de L’interieur (2025). Available at: Sommet international pour l’action sur l’intelligence artificielle [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
X (formerly Twitter). (2025). Available at: Welcome to Paris, my friend [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
X (formerly Twitter). (2025). Available at: The AI Action Summit in Paris [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
X (formerly Twitter). (2025). Available at: More than 100,000 Indians fought for France in 1914 [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
CNN-News18 (2025). Available at: Paris AI Summit 2025 LIVE : PM Modi And French President Emmanuel Macron [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].
Firstpost (2025). Available at: AI Summit 2025 LIVE: PM Modi Co-Chairs AI Summit [Accessed 18 Feb. 2025].