French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron have filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against right-wing media personality Candace Owens, accusing her of leading a deliberate and damaging campaign of misinformation.
The 22-count complaint, filed Wednesday in Delaware Superior Court, centres on Owens’ repeated claims that Brigitte Macron is biologically male and was born as “Jean-Michel Trogneux” — the actual name of her older brother. The Macrons describe the allegations as “vile fabrications” that have caused them deep personal and reputational harm.
“This campaign of global humiliation and relentless bullying has been carried out to serve Ms Owens’ financial and political interests, to grow her podcast, and expand her frenzied fan base,” the lawsuit states. It calls the behaviour “invasive, dehumanizing, and deeply unjust.”
While Macron’s office declined to comment, Owens has not responded to media requests regarding the case.
The lawsuit marks a rare instance of a sitting world leader pursuing a defamation case in a foreign court. In the US, public figures such as President Macron must meet a high legal threshold to prevail, proving that Owens acted with “actual malice”—that she knowingly spread false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
The Macrons allege that Owens’ statements have been amplified globally, resulting in a “pervasive and damaging narrative” that follows them in public life. “Every time the Macrons leave their home, they do so knowing that countless people have heard, and many believe, these vile fabrications,” the filing adds.
The couple is seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory and punitive damages.
The case comes amid a broader global reckoning over the impact of misinformation on public figures, especially women in politics. While defamation laws in France tend to offer stronger protections for personal dignity, the Macrons have opted to pursue the case in the US, where the alleged harm largely originated and spread through Owens’ American media platforms.
The lawsuit also highlights growing tensions between international public figures and online influencers who wield significant power over digital narratives and political discourse.
Whether the Macrons can meet the high legal bar set by US defamation standards remains to be seen, but the case is likely to attract international attention as it progresses.
Melissa Enoch
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