On July 23, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, filed a defamation lawsuit against American conservative commentator Candace Owens in Delaware Superior Court.

The lawsuit addresses Owens’ repeated claims that Brigitte Macron was born a man, allegations that the Macrons say have caused “tremendous damage” and subjected them to a “campaign of global humiliation.”

What Did Candace Owens Say About Brigitte Macron?

Candace Owens, a podcaster with nearly 7 million followers on X and 4.5 million YouTube subscribers, has repeatedly claimed that Brigitte Macron, France’s First Lady, was born male under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, her brother’s name.

On March 2024, Owens stated on X, “I would stake my entire professional reputation on the fact that Brigitte Macron is in fact a man.” She doubled down on these claims in her eight-part YouTube series titled Becoming Brigitte, which has garnered over 2.3 million views.

In a podcast episode aired on July 23, 2025, Owens addressed the lawsuit, calling it “just goofy” and an “obvious, desperate public relations strategy.” She further taunted Brigitte Macron, saying, “You were born a man and you’ll die a man… See you in court.”

Owens’ allegations also include other inflammatory claims, such as accusing the Macrons of being blood relatives committing incest and alleging that Emmanuel Macron was installed as president through a secret CIA plot, referencing the debunked MKUltra program.

The lawsuit states that Owens “disregarded all credible evidence disproving her claim in favor of platforming known conspiracy theorists and proven defamers.”

The Defamation Lawsuit: What Are the Macrons Accusing Owens Of?

The Macrons’ 218-page, 22-count lawsuit accuses Owens of defamation, false light, and defamation by implication.

Filed in Delaware, where Owens’ company is incorporated, the complaint alleges that Owens knowingly spread “outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions” to promote her podcast, gain notoriety, and make money.

The lawsuit claims her actions have caused “relentless bullying on a worldwide scale” and turned the Macrons’ lives into “fodder for profit-driven lies.”

Specifically, the Macrons accuse Owens of:

• Falsely claiming Brigitte Macron was born male and stole the identity of Jean-Michel Trogneux.
• Alleging the Macrons are blood relatives engaged in incest.
• Claiming Emmanuel Macron was selected as president through a CIA-operated mind control program.
• Ignoring three retraction demands sent in December 2024, early 2025, and July 1, 2025, and instead amplifying her claims.

The Macrons are seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, as well as legal costs, and have requested a jury trial.

Their attorney, Tom Clare, called the case a “clear-cut case of defamation,” noting that Owens’ claims rely on “discredited falsehoods” and were designed to “cause maximum harm to the Macrons and maximize attention and financial gain for herself.”

Have the Macrons Publicly Spoken About the Allegations?

The Macrons have addressed the allegations through their lawsuit and official statements.

In a statement released on July 23, 2025, they said, “Ms. Owens’ campaign of defamation was plainly designed to harass and cause pain to us and our families and to garner attention and notoriety.

We gave her every opportunity to back away from these claims, but she refused. It is our earnest hope that this lawsuit will set the record straight and end this campaign of defamation once and for all.”

Emmanuel Macron also spoke about the rumors in March 2024, saying, “The worst part of being a president was having to deal with the false information and fabricated stories.

People end up believing them, and it disrupts your life, even in your most private moments.” The French Élysée Palace has described the lawsuit as a “private affair” and declined further comment.

Brigitte Macron has faced similar false claims in France.

In 2021, she filed a libel complaint against two women, Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey, for spreading the same transgender rumors in a YouTube video.

Initially, the women were ordered to pay damages, but in July 2025, a Paris Court of Appeals overturned the ruling, stating the claims were made “in good faith.” Brigitte has appealed this decision to France’s highest court, the Court of Cassation.

The Background of Brigitte Macron

Brigitte Macron, born Brigitte Trogneux in 1953, is a former schoolteacher who met Emmanuel Macron when he was a 14-year-old student in her drama class in Amiens, France.

Brigitte was 39 when she met Emmanuel who was 14 years old, some reports claim that he was 15.

At the time, Brigitte was married to André-Louis Auzière, with whom she claims that she has three children with.

Brigitte and Emmanuel married in 2007, and Brigitte has been France’s First Lady since Emmanuel’s election in 2017.

The conspiracy theory about Brigitte’s gender originated around 2017 and gained traction through fringe online spaces, alleging she was born male as Jean-Michel Trogneux, her brother’s name.

These claims were amplified by French blogger Natacha Rey and others, including Owens, who cited Rey’s “investigation” in her content.

The Macrons’ lawsuit emphasizes that Brigitte was born a woman, gave birth to her three children, and is not related to Emmanuel by blood.

Where is Brigitte’s Brother?

Jean-Michel Trogneux, the brother of Brigitte Macron, was born in Amiens, France, in 1945

Jean-Michel allegedly keeps a low profile, so not much is known about him.

There are claims that he lives in Amiens, France.

Some posts on X claim he’s dead or missing, while others say he’s alive. There’s no clear, trustworthy information about where he is right now.

Additional Context: Owens’ Response and Broader Implications

Owens has remained defiant, framing the lawsuit as an attack on her First Amendment rights.

Her spokesperson stated, “Candace Owens is not shutting up. This is a foreign government attacking the First Amendment rights of an American independent journalist.

Candace repeatedly requested an interview with Brigitte Macron. Instead of offering a comment, Brigitte is resorting to trying to bully a reporter into submission.” In her July 23, 2025, podcast, Owens claimed the lawsuit contained inaccuracies and attributed false quotations to her.

The case is notable as a rare instance of a world leader suing for defamation in the U.S., where public figures must prove “actual malice” — that the defendant knew the statements were false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.

The Macrons’ legal team, led by Tom Clare of Clare Locke LLP, previously represented Dominion Voting Systems in a $790 million settlement against Fox News in 2023.

Why This Matters

The lawsuit highlights the growing impact of online information and misinformation.

The Macrons argue that Owens’ claims have fueled a “grotesque narrative” that invades their personal lives and causes “invasive, dehumanizing, and deeply unjust” harm.

View the Candice Owens podcast courtesy of YouTube