Claim
A viral video circulating on X, Facebook, and Instagram claims that French President Emmanuel Macron criticised the Indian Air Force during his February 2026
Verdict
False.
What Happened?
As Macron visited India from February 17–19, 2026 — attending events in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and later the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi — a video surfaced online showing him allegedly criticising India’s defence forces in English. The clip was widely shared, with some users believing it exposed tensions over the Rafale fighter jet deal manufactured by Dassault Aviation. However, a detailed review of the original footage proves the remarks are fabricated.
What the Original Video Shows
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral clip traced the footage back to the official livestream published by the French presidential office on February 17.
Key findings:
- Macron delivered his speech entirely in French.
- At the timestamp corresponding to the viral clip (around 27:52), there are no remarks criticising India.
- The official transcript from the French presidency does not contain the alleged statements.
- The Prime Minister’s Office of Narendra Modi also livestreamed the event, dubbing Macron’s speech in Hindi — with no such criticism included.
- The official India–France joint statement contains no remarks criticising India’s armed forces.
AI-Generated Audio Detected
Digital verification tools strongly indicate manipulation:
- Hive Moderation analysis shows a 98.8% probability that the viral audio is AI-generated.
- InVID-WeVerify’s analysis detected high likelihood of synthetic voice generation in multiple segments.
- The watermark in the false clip differs from authentic recordings.
The fabricated audio was overlaid onto genuine footage of Macron speaking in French, making the video appear authentic to unsuspecting viewers.
Why This Matters?
Macron’s visit focused on strengthening defence and technology ties, particularly around India’s major Rafale procurement plans. False claims suggesting diplomatic friction risk misleading the public during sensitive defence negotiations. The circulation of AI-manipulated political content also highlights a growing threat to information integrity during high-level international visits.
Conclusion By Factcheck India
There is no evidence that Emmanuel Macron criticised the Indian Air Force or defence partnership during his February 2026 India visit. The viral clip is a manipulated video using AI-generated audio. As AI tools become more accessible, viewers are advised to verify viral political content through official transcripts and trusted sources before sharing. The video uses manipulated visuals and AI-generated audio. Macron did not make those remarks. The video uses manipulated visuals and AI-generated audio. Macron did not make those remarks. visit to India. In the clip, Macron appears to say France “cannot become a complete defence partner with India” and that it lost a billion-dollar Rafale deal due to inefficiency.