In an unprecedented international legal move, French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron have filed a defamation lawsuit against U.S. conservative commentator and media personality, Candace Owens, over false and damaging claims that Brigitte Macron was born male and has lived under a fabricated identity.
The suit, filed in a Delaware state court on Wednesday, alleges that Owens intentionally spread “malicious, reckless and defamatory” statements through her widely viewed podcast and online platforms. Among the most serious accusations were repeated references to Brigitte Macron allegedly being born “Jean-Michel Trogneux” and claims of a hidden transgender past — allegations the Macrons categorically deny and label as “deeply harmful lies.”
Owens amplified the baseless conspiracy theory through a multi-part podcast series titled “Becoming Brigitte,” where she declared, “I would stake my entire professional reputation on the fact that Brigitte Macron is, in fact, a man.” The lawsuit contends that these claims were not only false but strategically designed to provoke public outrage, increase digital traffic, and monetize controversy at the expense of the Macrons' personal and public integrity.
“This campaign of falsehoods is beyond the pale,” said a spokesperson from the Élysée Palace. “President Macron and the First Lady are pursuing this lawsuit not just to defend their reputation, but to confront the growing danger of viral disinformation masquerading as journalism.”
According to legal filings, the Macrons are seeking punitive damages and have requested a jury trial. The complaint further outlines that Owens had been formally asked to retract her statements earlier this year, but refused to comply. The First Lady, who previously fought similar allegations in French courts, has escalated the matter internationally in response to Owens' global influence and the widespread reach of her media content.
Owens has responded by framing the lawsuit as an attack on free speech, claiming her remarks are protected under the First Amendment. However, legal experts note that under U.S. law, knowingly spreading falsehoods with “actual malice” about public figures can qualify as defamation.
This case marks one of the few times a sitting head of state and their spouse have taken a defamation battle to a U.S. court — a move that underscores the seriousness with which the French presidential couple views the situation.