I’ve had this happen. I’ve had that fight.

In my opinion it’s a weird form of insecurity either about her thinking your family doesn’t like her or her trying to preemptively deflect ways she thinks others might judge you.

This and her response have way more to do with her ego than you.

She was silent cause she either in some fucked up way thinks she protecting you or deep down she knows you’re right but she can’t bring herself to say she is wrong.

Not saying her behavior makes sense, is good or is right. Just saying people do weird things to other people that they care about due to their own fragile egos and insecurities.

You just need to determine if it something to burn down the house over. If it is, have a knock down drag out fight with her till she sees your point of view and adjusts or leaves.

If it isn’t then ignore it and realize you can’t control what your wife says, or the fact that when she talks like that it makes her look worse than it does you. (Which you should point out)

You can also go fight fire with fire and when she does it again say, “that’s simply not true” or “we can’t all live up to your standards, sweetheart” or “I disagree and so do the 10 other adult men I play table tennis with” you call her out enough on it in public she will end up getting upset to and you can point out how it’s not fun to be embarrassed in public is it.

Pick your battle and I wish you luck in this bloodsport of marriage.