Macrons Sue Candace Owens Over Defamation Claims in U.S. Court

Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron said court was their ‘only remaining avenue’© Alberto Pezzali/Getty Images

French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron have filed a defamation lawsuit in Delaware against conservative American commentator Candace Owens. The lawsuit centers on Owens’ repeated public claims that Brigitte Macron is a transgender woman, falsely alleging she was born as “Jean-Michel Trogneux,” her actual brother’s name.

The Macrons describe Owens’ statements as a “campaign of global humiliation” aimed at boosting her podcast's popularity through sensationalism and personal attacks. The complaint details how Owens allegedly distorted the Macrons’ personal lives, calling it “relentless bullying on a worldwide scale.”

Owens responded on her podcast, calling the lawsuit a “desperate PR strategy” riddled with inaccuracies. She claimed she was unaware a lawsuit was imminent, despite legal communications dating back to January. Her spokesperson framed the suit as an attack by a foreign government on her First Amendment rights.

The Macrons said they pursued legal action only after Owens ignored multiple retraction demands. Owens escalated tensions with a defiant video message to Brigitte Macron, reaffirming her claims and vowing to take the case into discovery, casting it as a "battle for global free speech".