Earlier this month, far-right and Russia-backing accounts circulated a baseless report that French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk were caught sniffing cocaine on a train ride to Kyiv.
The political leaders were traveling to Ukraine to demonstrate European solidarity against Russian aggression. France promptly denied the accusations. The items involved were a discarded tissue and a spoon, and not drugs. It is a demonstration of just how fast misinformation travels, particularly via far-right means.
False Rumors Spread Rapidly
The scandal began when a video posted showed the leaders on a train heading to Kyiv. Emmanuel Macron takes something white from the table in the video, and Friedrich Merz seems to take something away. Right-wing accounts soon asserted that Macron took a packet of cocaine and Merz was holding a snorting drug spoon.
When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs.
This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation. pic.twitter.com/xyXhGm9Dsr
— Élysée (@Elysee) May 11, 2025
Far-right personality Dinesh D’Souza uploaded the video. He implied that the leaders were secretly conspiring while on drugs. This false assertion spread like a wildfire.
France Releases a Clarification
The Elysee Palace made an official release to rectify the false information. France made it clear that Emmanuel Macron had grabbed a used tissue and that Friedrich Merz had stolen a stirrer, not a spoon. The French government posted this clarification on X . Despite the official rectification, the false information had already gone viral.
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
This demonstrates how right-wing and pro-Russian elements circulate false information to discredit European leaders and solidarity. Most of these actors also criticize Ukraine’s backing and have taken the side of Russian interests. Macron, Starmer, Merz, and Tusk were in Ukraine to demonstrate support for President Zelenskyy and offer a 30-day ceasefire for the conflict. The disinformation threatens to overshadow their diplomatic work.
Dangers of Fake News
Fake news dissemination is a burgeoning concern. Misinformation moves faster in the modern world. The case with Macron and other EU leaders serves to remind us how narratives driven by the far-right influence people’s opinion.
By the time France made its situation clear, harm had already been inflicted. Countering disinformation continues to be vital in today’s online environment.
