Macron Attacks Trump over Candace Owens’ Claims that His Wife Brigitte Was Born a Man

Being home is nothing but headaches for Emmanuel Macron and his ageing wife.

| Published August 22, 2025

A Fight for Truth and Honor—With a Side of Political Barbs

Macron’s lawsuit, filed in Delaware in July 2025, stems from Owens’s eight-part podcast series “Becoming Brigitte,” through which she promoted far-right conspiracy theories suggesting that Brigitte Macron was actually a man using another identity.

In his first public remarks on the case, Macron declared the lawsuit was about defending truth, not suppressing free speech. “It is not freedom of speech to want to prevent the truth from being restored,” he insisted. That statement carried unmistakable implications aimed at the Trump administration, which he criticized for limiting press access—even barring major outlets like the Associated Press from Oval Office events.

Owens Doubles Down—and Sees Trump’s Silence as Betrayal

Candace Owens has responded defiantly, dismissing the lawsuit as a political PR move and claiming it attacks her First Amendment rights. She continues to assert the claims in her podcast, and has reportedly even mocked Macron, calling him “a little punk” for refusing to utter her name publicly.

Adding another twist, Owens revealed that Trump attempted to intervene behind the scenes, urging her to drop the claims against Brigitte. According to Owens, he told her, “I saw her up close and she looks like a woman to me”.

The Lawsuit’s Stakes: Global Bullying Meets Legal Resolve

The complaint accuses Owens of trafficking in “verifiably false and devastating lies” for income and ideological notoriety, turning it into a “grotesque narrative designed to inflame and degrade”—and bringing global harassment upon the Macrons. The 22-count lawsuit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages and requests a jury trial.

While the Macrons initially hesitated—fearful of amplifying the conspiracy via the Streisand effect—they ultimately decided that silence was no longer viable given the scale of the claims circulating in the U.S.

Context: A Broader Trend of “Transvestigation” Conspiracy Attacks

The bizarre gender conspiracy targeting Brigitte Macron is part of a disturbing broader trend known as “transvestigation,” in which online conspiracy theorists accuse prominent women of secretly being men. Similar baseless conspiracies have also targeted Michelle Obama, Brittney Griner, Kamala Harris, and Queen Camilla—often tied to anti-LGBTQ and misogynistic motives.

Notably, two women in France who initially lost a defamation lawsuit over the same claims were acquitted on appeal in July 2025, prompting the Macrons to pursue parallel legal action in France.

French President Emmanuel Macron blasted Candace Owens as a liar who “knew very well that she was spreading false information” about his wife Brigitte being born male.

Owens fired back on her podcast Wednesday, mocking the French president as “such a little punk” and “a big weanie” for refusing to say her name during the interview.

The Macrons’ lawsuit accuses Owens of spreading the transgender rumor to “promote her independent platform, gain notoriety, and make money.”

“[Owens] is someone who knew very well that she was spreading false information and did so with the aim of causing harm,” Macron alleged.

Implications of the Macron–Trump–Owens Clash

1. International Diplomacy at Stake

• Macron’s decision to directly call out Trump moves the issue beyond a personal or domestic legal dispute into the realm of U.S.–France relations.

• By linking Trump’s record on press freedom to the fight against disinformation, Macron frames it as a democracy vs. disinformation battle, not just a personal defense of Brigitte.

2. Legal Precedent for Defamation Across Borders

• The case could set an unusual precedent: a sitting European leader suing an American media personality in a U.S. court.

• If Macron wins, it may encourage other global figures to use U.S. defamation law to challenge conspiracy theorists operating online.

• If Owens prevails, it may embolden others to weaponize conspiracy theories under the protection of the First Amendment.

3. Trump’s Position with MAGA Media Ecosystem

• Owens is a major MAGA influencer, and Trump’s alleged private attempt to distance himself from her narrative may create tension inside his base.

• Macron’s attack makes Trump appear either complicit in tolerating conspiracy culture or weak for failing to stop it. Either angle could affect his credibility with both mainstream voters and hardcore supporters.

4. Empowerment of the “Transvestigation” Movement

• The very fact that this lawsuit has gone global may amplify conspiracies instead of silencing them (the “Streisand effect”).

• If Owens continues to platform these claims, other fringe commentators may cash in on “transvestigation” conspiracies targeting other women in politics, entertainment, and sports.

5. Free Speech vs. Harm Debate

• The trial reopens the eternal battle between freedom of expression and protection from reputational harm.

• Conservatives in the U.S. will likely frame Macron’s lawsuit as an attack on the First Amendment, while Macron frames it as restoring truth and dignity.

• This could spark new legal debates on how far defamation law can go in the digital age.

6. Public Opinion War

• In France, Macron positions himself as defending his wife and truth, which may bolster his standing domestically.

• In the U.S., the lawsuit risks being spun as foreign meddling in free speech—something that Owens is already leaning into by painting herself as a victim of “elitist censorship.”

7. The Future of Political Disinformation

• The outcome will influence how politicians and public figures globally respond to coordinated disinformation campaigns.

• A Macron victory could deter influencers from spreading identity-based conspiracies.

• A Macron loss could signal that personal attacks framed as “opinion” remain untouchable, even if they cause international fallout.

Overall Takeaway:

The Macron–Owens clash is no longer just a spat over wild online rumors. By drawing Trump into the conversation, Macron has escalated it into a transatlantic fight over truth, power, and free speech. For Macron, the lawsuit is about protecting his wife and striking back against what he calls a campaign of lies. For Owens and her defenders, it is proof that political elites will go to extraordinary lengths to silence voices they dislike.

As the case unfolds in a U.S. courtroom, its impact may stretch far beyond Brigitte Macron’s reputation. It will test whether global leaders can curb the spread of conspiracy theories in the digital age—or whether such efforts only amplify them. Either way, the outcome will mark a turning point in the battle between free expression and reputational harm, with consequences reaching from Paris to Washington and across the internet itself.

SOURCES: THE GATEWAY PUNDIT – Macron Attacks Trump over Candace Owens’ Claims that His Wife Brigitte Was Born a Man

POLITICO – Macrons sue hard-right commentator Candace Owens for defamation

THE NEW YORK POST – Emmanuel Macron rips Candace Owens for ‘spreading false information’ as French president addresses lawsuit: ‘Defending my honor’

THE INDEPENDENT – Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron sue far-right podcaster Candace Owens over false claims French president’s wife is a man