Macron Sues Candace Owens: Inside the French President’s Bold Battle Against Viral Disinformation

The Macron couple launches a historic legal offensive to defend their honor against global misinformation

A presidential couple. An explosive web star. A rumor that devastates everything in its path. Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron go on the offensive. They are suing Candace Owens, who needs no introduction. Accusation: transphobic rumors intended to harm. On social media, not everything has always been allowed. This trial is more than a matter of honor. It is a direct battle between democracy and digital chaos. Who commands, who lies, who protects? We explain.

The presidential couple facing an unprecedented threat

Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron had never taken such a step before. On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, they filed a lawsuit for defamation in the United States against the highly influential American activist Candace Owens. This action is a direct response to one of the most viral rumors on social media: the unfounded claim that Brigitte Macron was "born a man." By choosing the United States, they target the very heart of the phenomenon, where the impact was greatest.

Candace Owens, an icon of the Trumpist right and friend of Marion Maréchal, relies on sensationalism to exist. Her strategy: provoke for viral and profitable ends. Misinformation becomes her business model. She turns every rumor into a narrative ready to be monetized. In her sights: Brigitte Macron, a figure who has become a global target.
Candace Owens, an icon of the Trumpist right and friend of Marion Maréchal, relies on sensationalism to exist. Her strategy: provoke for viral and profitable ends. Misinformation becomes her business model. She turns every rumor into a narrative ready to be monetized. In her sights: Brigitte Macron, a figure who has become a global target.

Candace Owens, a key figure in the American web, has specialized in amplifying controversial content. She is a fervent supporter of Donald Trump and an influential figure in the American far-right. Moreover, she perfectly masters the codes of social media. Her videos titled Becoming Brigitte have accumulated over a billion views, ensuring global spread of the conspiracy theory. For several months, she has been exploiting the theses of French influencer Xavier Poussard and the controversial book Devenir Brigitte. Their common theory, without evidence, claims that Brigitte Macron is actually her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, under a different identity. Xavier Poussard often appeared with a hidden face on Égalité et Réconciliation, the controversial site of Alain Soral. There, Candace Owens’ videos are broadcast, dubbed in French. On this site, the lady with fake hair is designated as the "ideal woman," with "fake airs of Rihanna." With or without makeup?

Candace Owens, emblematic figure of a new era

Candace Owens is a major player in a media landscape deeply transformed by the Internet. Her strategy relies on aggressive use of digital virality. On X, YouTube, and Instagram, she gathers nearly 15 million followers. Each publication amplifies her ideas and extends her influence. Thus, each scandal becomes a lever to increase her audience and income.

Mastering communication, social media, and the art of performance: Candace Owens turns her defense into a political spectacle. Complaints, slogans, mocking t-shirts... each attack becomes a performance. She unites 15 million followers around an alternative, often conspiratorial narrative. Her main weapon: emotional polarization and the cult of visibility.
Mastering communication, social media, and the art of performance: Candace Owens turns her defense into a political spectacle. Complaints, slogans, mocking t-shirts… each attack becomes a performance. She unites 15 million followers around an alternative, often conspiratorial narrative. Her main weapon: emotional polarization and the cult of visibility.

Beyond simple comments on current events, she methodically orchestrates online campaigns. Owens organizes live events, markets merchandise, and publicly stages the lawsuits filed against her. As soon as the French presidential couple’s lawsuit was announced, she reacted live: “Today, I was sued by the ‘first lady’ of France.” Ostentatiously brandishing the lawsuit in front of her millions of followers, she immediately exploits this legal attack to her advantage.

Owens’ method mixes provocation, marketing, and extreme political discourse. She thus sells sarcastic t-shirts "Man of the Year" mocking Brigitte Macron. Her business model is based on the constant exploitation of media controversies.

The Macrons, between personal resilience and media counterattack

Since 2021, Brigitte Macron has been subjected to an unprecedented media attack. The initial rumor, born on obscure forums, has been amplified by far-right relays. In France, the first lady had already sued Natacha Rey, responsible for the first viral video. However, the international scale of the affair now requires a more global response.

The couple Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron are entering a global battle. They aim to tackle disinformation not only for their honor but for democratic exemplarity. A rare lawsuit, filed in the United States, marks a strategic turning point. The attack targets the heart of digital chaos, where rumors thrive too quickly.
The couple Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron are entering a global battle. They aim to tackle disinformation not only for their honor but for democratic exemplarity. A rare lawsuit, filed in the United States, marks a strategic turning point. The attack targets the heart of digital chaos, where rumors thrive too quickly.

For the first time, Emmanuel Macron officially joins his wife in a legal action. This strategic choice reflects a profound change. The presidential couple now entrusts their defense to the famous American lawyer Thomas Clare, a renowned specialist in defamation law. They are seeking "exemplary damages" and request a jury trial, a rare situation for a sitting head of state.

In response to the magnitude of the rumor, the Macrons are changing their approach. For the first time, the president is confronting the American justice system. By his side: his wife. An unprecedented duo facing a system quite different from the French model. With lawyer Thomas Clare, they aim to set a legal precedent. Objective: to break the global cycle of political disinformation.
In response to the magnitude of the rumor, the Macrons are changing their approach. For the first time, the president is confronting the American justice system. By his side: his wife. An unprecedented duo facing a system quite different from the French model. With lawyer Thomas Clare, they aim to set a legal precedent. Objective: to break the global cycle of political disinformation.

This decision pursues three main objectives. It solemnly reminds of the seriousness of the accusations and exposes the workings of modern disinformation. Moreover, it sends a strong signal to other political leaders who are victims of similar campaigns.

A risky legal battle in the United States

In the United States, freedom of expression enjoys broad protection thanks to the First Amendment. To hope for a conviction, the Macrons must prove that Candace Owens acted with "actual malice": showing that she knew her statements were false or that she deliberately disregarded the truth. This legal requirement makes the case particularly delicate.

For her part, Owens presents herself as a journalist and whistleblower. Prepared for a long legal battle, she has substantial financial means and a solid support network. The trial could thus last for years, ensuring permanent visibility for the controversy.

The financial stakes are significant. In the United States, defamation damages can reach staggering amounts. However, beyond the financial aspect, it is about setting a clear limit to globalized disinformation.

Candace Owens: the journey of an influential provocateur

Born in 1989, Candace Owens began her media career with strong positions against the Black Lives Matter movement. Her popularity exploded with the election of Donald Trump and the Covid-19 health crisis, which she called a conspiracy. An avowed climate skeptic, she does not hesitate to support extreme theories or controversial figures like Alex Jones.

Her method relies on an assumed polarization. Owens uses social media to provoke outrage, fuel controversies, and generate revenue. Each scandal increases her visibility and strengthens her influence.

The Macrons facing a global challenge

By directly confronting the Owens rumor, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron defend their personal honor, but also that of French institutions. This unprecedented trial highlights the current complexity of the fight against disinformation. Observed worldwide, this legal battle could be a major turning point in managing crises related to fake news.

This case reflects an era where truth and lies constantly intertwine. The upcoming trial will be a crucial test. It will determine the ability of democracies to protect the dignity of their representatives. Moreover, it will assess integrity in the face of digital excesses.

Information or spectacle, mercantile? You be the judge.

This article was written by Émilie Schwartz.