France's Macron To Offer 'Scientific Evidence' To Prove His Wife Is A Woman
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte plan to present "photographic and scientific evidence" to prove that France's first lady is not a transgender woman after suing the United States' far-right influencer Candace Owens
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Brigitte Macron, who first met President Emmanuel Macron while teaching at a high school in Amiens, is now at the center of a defamation case. (File)
French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse Brigitte are prepared to present "photographic and scientific evidence" to counter defamatory claims in their lawsuit against American far-right commentator Candace Owens, whom they sued for defamation in July.
The legal action follows Ms. Owens' persistent promotion of transphobic allegations claiming that Mrs. Macron was born male under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, and had allegedly "groomed" a teenage Emmanuel Macron before transitioning.
Tom Clare, the Macrons' attorney from the firm Clare Locke, revealed to BBC's Fame Under Fire podcast that these allegations have been "incredibly upsetting" to Mrs. Macron and created a "distraction" for the French president.
"I wouldn't suggest it has derailed his focus. However, like anyone balancing career and family responsibilities, when your family comes under attack, it takes a toll," Mr. Clare stated, adding that "being president of a country doesn't make him immune to such personal distress."
The lawyer indicated that "expert testimony of a scientific nature" would be presented in court. While not revealing specific details, Mr. Clare affirmed that the couple was "prepared to demonstrate fully, both generically and specifically," that the allegations were false.
Regarding the Macrons, Mr. Clare observed, "While they hold significant positions on the world stage, they remain human beings, and it's both offensive and hurtful to be accused of criminal acts and conspiracy regarding their identities."
"It's profoundly distressing to think one must subject oneself to providing this type of evidence," he remarked.
Brigitte Macron, 72 and a mother of three, first encountered her husband—who is 24 years her junior—while teaching at a high school in Amiens, northern France, where the future president was her student.
When questioned about whether the Macrons would provide photographs of Brigitte pregnant and raising her children, Mr. Clare confirmed such evidence exists and would be presented in court, where proper rules and standards apply, according to the BBC.
Ms. Owens, 36, who commands over six million Instagram followers, has repeatedly insisted that France's First Lady is transgender and "was born male." In March 2024, she declared she would stake her "entire professional reputation" on this claim.
These allegations first emerged in fringe online communities years earlier through a 2021 YouTube video by French bloggers Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey, as reported by the BBC.
The Macrons initially succeeded in a defamation case against Roy and Rey in France in 2024, but the ruling was overturned on appeal in 2025 on freedom of expression grounds, not based on factual determination.
Mr. Clare explained that his investigation into Ms. Owens involved building a profile of her connections and networks. He noted, "While I cannot definitively state her motive, we discovered strong connections between Owens and the French far-right."
"She maintains a significant audience who trust her statements, not only her numerous podcast listeners but also mainstream media outlets that cite her when reporting on this false narrative," he elaborated.
In a July interview with CNN, Mr. Clare described the defamation suit filed in Delaware as "truly a last resort" following an unsuccessful year-long attempt to engage with Ms. Owens and requests that she "do the right thing: tell the truth and stop spreading these falsehoods."