Macron calls Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull's wife 'delicious'

French president makes apparent slip during press conference in Sydney

Emmanuel Macron has raised eyebrows by calling Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s wife “delicious” during a visit to Sydney.

The French president made the remarks in a joint press conference held by the two leaders during a rare visit to the country to discuss security and trade.

Drawing the proceedings to a close, Mr Macron moved to thank Mr Turnbull and his wife, Lucy, for their hospitality during the visit.

“I want to thank you for your welcome, thank you and your delicious wife for your warm welcome,” he said.

“For the perfect organisation of this trip, thanks to you and Lucy, thank you very much, Mr Prime Minister.”

The comment quickly attracted attention on social media and in the Australian press, sparking light-hearted conjecture as to what had been the president’s intention.

Some observers have suggested Mr Macron’s usually fluent English had failed him, since the French word for delicious, delicieux, can also be used to mean “delightful”.

Others believe despite the deadpan nature of his delivery, Mr Macron may have been attempting to make a joke, possibly a tongue-in-cheek reference to Donald Trump‘s visit to Paris last year.

The US president was caught during the trip telling Mr Macron’s wife, Brigitte, that she was “in such great shape”, before looking to her husband and saying, “beautiful”.

Regardless of the intent, the French president’s remark was quickly forgotten as Mr Turnbull smiled and shook his hand.

Additional reporting by PA