French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, have filed a defamation lawsuit in Delaware against US right-wing commentator Candace Owens for falsely claiming that Brigitte was born male. The couple’s lawyer, Tom Clare, revealed plans to present photographic and scientific evidence in court to disprove the allegations, which the Macrons say have caused significant distress to the French president.
Owens’ legal team has contested the case’s jurisdiction, citing high legal costs. The rumors about Brigitte’s birthdate stem from a 2021 interview with spiritual medium Amandine Roy, who claimed she was Jean-Michel Trogneux. In 2024, the Macrons won a defamation case in France, but the ruling was overturned in July 2025 on freedom of speech grounds.
24 years his senior, France’s first lady met Emmanuel Macron when he was 15 and she was his literature teacher at school. The couple got married in 2007. The allegations against Brigitte have been a contentious issue, with the couple taking legal steps to protect her reputation and personal dignity.
Legal experts suggest that while the defamation case could have financial implications, the broader implications are primarily political and social, influencing public perceptions and diplomatic relations between France and the United States.