Khaberni - In a step that sparked wide controversy on social media platforms, the Élysée Palace released a video of the French President Emmanuel Macron participating in physical training with the French forces in Abu Dhabi, during his visit to the army on Christmas, which coincided with his forty-eighth birthday last Sunday.
The video shows Macron, dressed in blue shorts and a white shirt, leading the soldiers in a series of military exercises including push-ups, planks, knee raises, and running, in front of an armored vehicle.
He was joined in the workout by the famous French fitness influencer Thibaud Delapart, known as "Thibaud InShape," who has over 27 million followers on social media platforms, and who was encouraging the soldiers and the president saying, "Come on, no complaints."
The video did not just include exercises, but also featured shots of the soldiers taking photos with Macron, and celebrating his birthday by presenting a cake, amid an atmosphere of enthusiasm and encouragement.
The president accompanied the video with a comment through his official accounts saying, "It is a great honor to share these moments with our soldiers, happy new year to all."
However, the participation did not pass without stirring mixed reactions among the followers, as some wondered about the possibility of using artificial intelligence techniques in the video, while others considered the video to be the latest attempt by Macron to showcase his physical strength and fitness, carefully chosen appearances in recent years.4
