In late August, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro appeared to endorse a Facebook post comparing the appearance of Brazil’s and France’s first ladies – not in Brigitte Macron’s favour – while his economy minister on Tuesday called her “ugly”.

The feud between the two presidents entered a new level after Bolsonaro’s reaction to a Facebook comment on the rift between the two leaders went viral.

The snap, circulating on social media suggests that the Brazilian president reacted to a meme that featured a photo of Emmanuel and his 66-year-old wife Brigitte, and a snapshot of Bolsonaro and his 37-year-old first lady Michelle, along with the tagline: “Now you understand why Macron is persecuting Bolsonaro?”

He allegedly responded “Do not humiliate the man hahaha”, which immediately prompted debates online.

The spat unfolded amid a diplomatic clash over raging fires in the Amazon rainforest.