Macron Slams Kremlin's "Cocaine Train" Claims as Desperate Disinformation

[Social Media]

 

Macron Slams Kremlin's "Cocaine Train" Claims as Desperate Disinformation

 

President Emmanuel Macron has strongly condemned a bizarre conspiracy theory promoted by pro-Russian media and officials alleging he used cocaine while traveling to Kyiv with fellow European leaders. The French presidency, in a public rebuke, dismissed the rumor as absurd and part of a broader campaign of disinformation aimed at undermining European unity.

🇷🇺 JUST IN: Russia's Maria Zakharova reacts to the viral "cocaine" video featuring Macron, Starmer & Merz: "Looks like the Frenchman, the Englishman & the German boarded a train… and took a hit. The fate of Europe is in the hands of drugged, dependent, temporary figures."… pic.twitter.com/RSj9F16EAq

— K13 News (@K13News) May 12, 2025

 

“This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation,” the Élysée Palace posted on X, formerly Twitter. The statement followed the circulation of doctored or misleading footage online purporting to show Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer using cocaine during their train journey to Ukraine.

 

 

Social media posts promoting the conspiracy showed Macron picking up a used tissue, which conspiracy theorists claimed was a bag of cocaine. Others alleged that Merz was seen using a “cocaine spoon.” However, high-definition video footage of the incident clearly showed that Macron was handling a crumpled tissue, and the so-called spoon was nothing more than a standard plastic coffee stirrer.

 

The Élysée responded pointedly: “When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs.”

The trio had been traveling overnight from Poland to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. During the visit, they collectively called on Russia to observe a 30-day ceasefire, a proposal that President Vladimir Putin quickly rejected.

 

In a further escalation, the Russian foreign ministry amplified the conspiracy. Its spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, posted on Telegram: “A Frenchman, an Englishman and a German” had allegedly been spotted with cocaine paraphernalia. She wrote, “The fate of Europe is being decided by utterly (drug) dependent individuals. It’s as if the Almighty Himself is lifting the veil on this putrid spectacle.” Zakharova also repeated the Kremlin's long-standing narrative that President Zelensky is an “unstable cocaine addict,” adding that a Western diplomat had supposedly confided in her that drug use was common among European leaders.

 

The inflammatory remarks align with a consistent pattern of false narratives promoted by Kremlin-affiliated accounts. One such French-language pro-Russian account cynically commented: “Coke is going to take decisions on the third world war.”

 

The French government has warned that these attacks are part of an intensified digital assault by Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, which Paris says has been targeting President Macron’s administration since 2017. “It infiltrates French digital networks with two aims: collecting intelligence for the benefit of the Kremlin and destabilising our society by creating distrust,” the foreign ministry stated earlier this month.

 

Macron himself has been a frequent target of Russian-backed online campaigns. These have included baseless claims about his sexuality, accusations that his wife Brigitte is transgender, and conspiracy theories linking him to a supposed global cabal orchestrated by billionaire George Soros.

 

The accounts pushing the cocaine rumor have now suggested that the Élysée has ordered French media outlets to suppress coverage of the story—yet another unsubstantiated claim in a growing list of provocations.

 

Despite the noise, French officials remain adamant that such attacks only underscore the desperation of those threatened by European solidarity.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-05-14

 

 

[impulse]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

Macron himself has been a frequent target of Russian-backed online campaigns. These have included baseless claims about his sexuality, accusations that his wife Brigitte is transgender, and conspiracy theories linking him to a supposed global cabal orchestrated by billionaire George Soros.

 

We call those spoiler alerts.

 

If your wife is a dude, what does that say about your sexuality?

 

I get a kick out of the way they blame Russkie intelligence agencies.  As if TikTokers and YouTubers don't do it just for clicks.

 

 

[Hakuna Matata]

Macron, Starmer, Merz caught in 'cocaine scandal’? Viral train video takes the internet by storm

 

 

[johng]

If they had nothing to hide  why did they (try to) 

hide both the spoon and the bag ???

[NoDisplayName]

Of course it was Russian disinformation.

 

Just like Hunter's laptop.

 

And the Steele....oh, wait!

[Purdey]

It's ok as Putin has cancer/muscular sclerosis/Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease/Ebola (pick one), so the war won't last long.

[frank83628]

Usual blame Russia for everything BS by the western propaganda machine

I've seen a few memes and satirical clips, none have anything to do with Russia.

[WorriedNoodle]

13 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

Usual blame Russia for everything BS by the western propaganda machine

Is it a  western propaganda machine or fact? I was led to believe all the following were facts?

 

Disinformation and Propaganda

    False Claims about Macron: Russia spread false claims that Macron was using cocaine on a train ride, part of a broader pattern of disinformation.

Military Actions and Conflicts

    Invasion of Ukraine (2022): Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to significant loss of life and displacement.
    Support for Separatist Groups: Russia has continued to support separatist groups in Eastern Ukraine, fueling ongoing conflict.

Cyber Attacks and Espionage

    Sandworm Hacking Campaign: Russian state-sponsored hacking group APT44 (Sandworm) targeted critical organizations and governments in a multi-year campaign.
Humanitarian Crises

    Downing of MH17 (2014): Russia-backed separatists shot down Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, killing 298 civilians.

Other Controversies

    Interference in Foreign Elections: Russia has been accused of interfering in numerous foreign elections, including in the US and Europe.
Support for Authoritarian Regimes: Russia has provided support to authoritarian regimes, including in Syria, Belarus and Myanmar.
Human Rights Abuses: Russia has faced criticism for human rights abuses, including treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals and opposition figures.
Annexation of Crimea (2014): Russia annexed Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula, in a move widely condemned by the international community.
Poisoning of Alexei Navalny (2020): Russia was accused of poisoning opposition leader Alexei Navalny with a nerve agent.

 

Come on Frank, surely all the above wasn't propaganda was it? Have you thought it thro?

[johng]

3 minutes ago, WorriedNoodle said:

Come on Frank, surely all the above wasn't propaganda was it? Have you thought it thro?

 

You forgot the Nordstream pipeline that Russia blew up  so they couldn't sell gas to Germany.   Propaganda indeed !!

[frank83628]

4 hours ago, WorriedNoodle said:

Is it a  western propaganda machine or fact? I was led to believe all the following were facts?

 

Disinformation and Propaganda

    False Claims about Macron: Russia spread false claims that Macron was using cocaine on a train ride, part of a broader pattern of disinformation.

Military Actions and Conflicts

    Invasion of Ukraine (2022): Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to significant loss of life and displacement.
    Support for Separatist Groups: Russia has continued to support separatist groups in Eastern Ukraine, fueling ongoing conflict.

Cyber Attacks and Espionage

    Sandworm Hacking Campaign: Russian state-sponsored hacking group APT44 (Sandworm) targeted critical organizations and governments in a multi-year campaign.
Humanitarian Crises

    Downing of MH17 (2014): Russia-backed separatists shot down Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, killing 298 civilians.

Other Controversies

    Interference in Foreign Elections: Russia has been accused of interfering in numerous foreign elections, including in the US and Europe.
Support for Authoritarian Regimes: Russia has provided support to authoritarian regimes, including in Syria, Belarus and Myanmar.
Human Rights Abuses: Russia has faced criticism for human rights abuses, including treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals and opposition figures.
Annexation of Crimea (2014): Russia annexed Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula, in a move widely condemned by the international community.
Poisoning of Alexei Navalny (2020): Russia was accused of poisoning opposition leader Alexei Navalny with a nerve agent.

 

Come on Frank, surely all the above wasn't propaganda was it? Have you thought it thro?

Try writing your own thoughts or opinions , rather than AI generated BS.

Or can you not think for yourself?. That comment literally covers ever single wenstern propaganda machine buzz words and talking points...as a grown adult,   are you really that naïve?

Personally I don't think they were hiding coke, however their actions, if not edited, were weird. Stop using AI for your comments, 

[mrwebb8825]

The clip showing him grabbing it with his right hand and tucking it under his left elbow like he was just crossing his arms is fake?

Link?

[impulse]

9 hours ago, frank83628 said:

Try writing your own thoughts or opinions , rather than AI generated BS.

Or can you not think for yourself?. That comment literally covers ever single wenstern propaganda machine buzz words and talking points...as a grown adult,   are you really that naïve?

Personally I don't think they were hiding coke, however their actions, if not edited, were weird. Stop using AI for your comments, 

 

Just confirms who's training AI and for what purpose.  Garbage in, garbage out.