FACT CHECK: French President did not admit Rafale jets were shot down

A video showing French President Emmanuel Macron admitting that its Rafale fighter jets were shot down due to the incompetence of the India Air Force is digitally altered.

The video has been manipulated with an audio recording to suggest the French president has acknowledged that the aircraft were shot down.

The controversy has continued since the brief Pakistan-India war in May 2025 when Pakistan shot down six Indian aircraft including French-made Rafales. India has not officially acknowledged that its jets were shot down but several officials have admitted to losses.

President Macron was on an official visit to India where he met with Indian PM Narendra Modi in Mumbai. The visit was also expected to discuss a Rafale deal worth an estimated $38 billion.

An X account, The Whistle Blower, that regularly shares misinformation and altered videos, shared the post captioned, “Breaking News: Emannuel Macron spills the beans at India AI Summit “We have already lost a billion dollars Rafale market because of inefficiency of Indian air force. We can’t be a part of any failed organization to further tarnish our name.”

The original video was shared by India media outlet, ANI, on X and other social media accounts. In the video, French President Macron says:

“Whether it’s the Rafale, submarines, or the engines for fifth-generation fighter jets, there are many areas where we are working together with India. We believe in technology transfer, and we have tried to do the same, as you desired. We both believe in strategic autonomy.”

In the original video, there is no mention of the Rafale jets being shot down or assertions made by the French president that it “lost a billion dollars Rafale market” due to the incompetence of the Indian air force.