A viral post on X by Alex Jones, an American far-right media figure and conspiracy theorist, has alleged that French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz were “caught on video” with a bag of white powder and a spoon after visiting Kyiv. The post that has since been deleted had garnered over 29 million views, insinuating that the leaders appeared visibly under the influence and links them to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, labeling him a “known cocaine enthusiast.”

Upon conducting a reverse image search, we confirmed that the video is authentic and was recorded inside a train carriage transporting the European leaders to Kyiv for official diplomatic talks with President Zelensky. In the video, President Macron can be seen briefly moving a white object from the table during a photo opportunity.

However, there is no evidence that the white object was cocaine. It most likely was a used tissue or napkin. The claim has been categorically denied by the French presidential office. The Elysée Palace issued a statement on its official X account stating:

“When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes as 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.”

Interestingly, allegations of Macron’s drug use go back nearly a decade without any evidence. The French president has also faced odd conspiracies, including that his wife, Brigitte Macron, was born a man.

There is no credible evidence to support the claim that Macron, Starmer, or Merz were caught sniffing cocaine. The video does not depict drug use, and the allegations appear to be linked to a long-standing history of attempts to smear Macron via disinformation.