European Leaders Cocaine Conspiracy: Macron Denounces Disinformation Campaign

The Cocaine Conspiracy Theory

• 💡 A bizarre conspiracy theory falsely accused European leaders of snorting cocaine during a train journey to Ukraine.
• 🎯 The claims originated on Telegram and were amplified by Russian trolls and Western conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones.
• 🚂 Edited footage showed French President Emmanuel Macron, UK PM Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz entering a train carriage.

Allegations and Evidence

• 🔍 Conspiracy theorists claimed Macron removed a bag of cocaine from a table, which was actually a crumpled tissue.
• 🥄 Friedrich Merz was accused of handling a white spoon for cocaine, but it was a standard plastic coffee stirrer.
• ⚠️ Alex Jones promoted the theory, labeling Ukrainian President Zelensky a cocaine enthusiast and misrepresenting the video's timing.

Official Response and Disinformation Tactics

• 🗣️ The Elysee Palace (Macron's office) denounced the claims as fake news spread by France's enemies.
• 🚫 The statement urged vigilance against manipulation and highlighted the dangers of coordinated disinformation efforts.
• 🇷🇺 The Russian Foreign Ministry, through spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, also spread the falsehoods, alleging rampant drug use among European politicians.