France Hits Back at ‘Cocaine Train’ Disinformation Spread by Conspiracy Theorists

Amid the recent visit of European leaders to Kyiv to call for an immediate ceasefire, social media propagandists have spread a baseless conspiracy theory accusing French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of using cocaine on the train to Kyiv. France has strongly denied these unfounded claims.

European Leaders Call for Immediate Ceasefire in Kyiv

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Premier Donald Tusk arrived together at Kyiv’s train station on Saturday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In a united front, the four leaders urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, warning that they would increase pressure on Moscow if he refused. They emphasized their coordinated effort to support Ukraine and open the door for peace negotiations as the war enters its fourth year.

The European leaders said they had briefed U.S. President Donald Trump earlier in the day and confirmed his backing for their ceasefire proposal, which is set to begin Monday. Together with Trump, they are pushing for a pause in hostilities to facilitate diplomatic dialogue.

Trolls Fuel Viral ‘Cocaine Train’ Conspiracy

Social media trolls circulated a conspiracy theory accusing French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of using cocaine aboard the train that brought them and U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to Kyiv over the weekend.

Conspiracy accounts claimed that Macron attempted to hide a crumpled bag of cocaine while Merz handled a white spoon, allegedly used for the drug, just as journalists entered the train’s conference cabin. 

A video promoting the ‘cocaine train’ theory quickly went viral, amassing millions of views.

An X user known for spreading disinformation, @SilentlySirs, posted the footage with the caption, “On the way back from Kyiv, journalists unexpectedly entered the leaders’ cabin. German advisor Merz hid a spoon used for cocaine, while French President Macron concealed a bag of it.”

Another user amplified the claim, alleging, “Macron, Starmer, and Merz caught on video on their return from Kiev. A bag of white powder on the table. Macron quickly pockets it, Merz hides the spoon. No explanation given.”

European Leaders Remove Trash Before Photo Op

Despite the claim's implausibility, influential accounts have promoted the false claim that a tissue and a coffee stirrer seen in a video were allegedly a bag of cocaine and a drug spoon.

The high-definition footage, originally published by AFP on YouTube, clearly shows the leaders simply clearing trash, including a crumpled tissue and a plastic stirrer, before posing for a photo with the press.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz were seen tidying the table as journalists entered the train’s cabin, not hiding narcotics, as conspiracy theorists falsely claimed.

The original clip confirms the scene shows nothing more than routine cleanup ahead of a media appearance.

France Condemns ‘Cocaine Train’ Disinformation Campaign

The French presidency has dismissed as absurd the conspiracy theory circulating on pro-Russian social media channels that President Emmanuel Macron snorted cocaine alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz aboard the train to Kyiv.

“This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation,” the Élysée Palace wrote on X.

With uploaded photos along with the post, the presidency further stated, “When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to turn a simple tissue look like drugs.”

False Drug Use Claims Target President Zelenskyy

Conspiracy theorists have long tried to link world leaders to drug use, recycling old disinformation tactics to smear their reputations.

In the latest wave, propaganda accounts recirculate baseless claims about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to falsely accuse him, along with other European leaders, of using cocaine.

Despite repeatedly making these claims, users have never provided credible evidence. Misbar and other international outlets have consistently debunked these claims.

In April 2022, France 24 exposed a digitally altered video that falsely portrayed Zelenskyy as addicted to cocaine during a video call with Elon Musk.

Around the same time, the Associated Press debunked another deceptively edited clip that falsely shows Zelenskyy admitting to using drugs.

In August 2022, Misbar’s investigative team also verified that a widely circulated photo allegedly showing Zelenskyy snorting cocaine had been manipulated.

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