It sounds like a plot from a bizarre political thriller. French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron are officially taking conservative firebrand Candace Owens to court in the United States. They aren't just sending a sternly worded letter. They filed a massive, 219-page defamation lawsuit in Delaware.
Honestly, the whole thing is surreal.
The core of the fight? A persistent, widely debunked conspiracy theory claiming Brigitte Macron was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux. Owens didn't just mention it once. She staked her "entire professional reputation" on it.
Now, a high-stakes legal battle is unfolding across the Atlantic.
Why the French President Sues Candace Owens Now
The Macrons didn't jump straight to a lawsuit. According to their legal team, led by Tom Clare, they spent over a year trying to get Owens to retract her statements. They sent demands. They offered proof. Owens, in her typical style, basically laughed it off. She doubled down. She launched an eight-part podcast series called Becoming Brigitte.
She even started selling merchandise, including a "Man of the Year" shirt featuring the First Lady's face.
The lawsuit, filed in July 2025, alleges a "campaign of global humiliation." The Macrons argue that Owens isn't just "asking questions." They claim she is intentionally laundering lies to grow her audience and make money. In the world of U.S. defamation law, this hits on the "actual malice" standard. That’s the high bar public figures have to clear to win.
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They have to prove she knew it was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
The Evidence vs. The Theory
What's actually in those 219 pages? It’s basically a family album turned legal exhibit. The Macrons are reportedly ready to present:
- Birth certificates from April 1953.
- Photos of Brigitte as a young girl.
- Medical records and scientific evidence of her three pregnancies.
- Testimonies from her children, like Tiphaine Auzière, who has spoken out about the emotional toll this takes.
Owens remains unmoved. She claims the "Jean-Michel" in the family tree—who is actually Brigitte's older brother—is the First Lady’s true identity. She's even looped in wilder claims, mentioning things like the Stanford Prison Experiment and MKUltra. It sounds crazy because, well, it is.
But in the digital age, "crazy" gets clicks. And clicks are currency.
Recent Wins for Brigitte in France
While the U.S. case is just heating up, the French courts have been busy. In January 2026, a Paris court found 10 people guilty of cyberbullying the First Lady. These individuals weren't famous influencers. They were regular people—a teacher, a property developer, a publicist—who shared the same "Jean-Michel" theories Owens promotes.
They didn't just get a slap on the wrist.
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- Eight people received suspended prison sentences.
- One man was sentenced to six months in jail.
- They were ordered to pay thousands in damages.
Owens reacted to this news by calling the French government "psychopathic" and "dangerous." She argues that France’s strict cyberbullying laws are a preview of what the "Deep State" wants for America. To her, this isn't a defamation case; it's a war on free speech.
The Strategy Behind the Lawsuit
Why sue in Delaware? It’s not a random choice. Owens’ business entities are incorporated there. By filing in the U.S., the Macrons are forcing the battle onto Owens' home turf, where the First Amendment is king.
It’s a risky move.
If the case goes to trial, the French President and First Lady might actually have to show up in a Delaware courtroom. Imagine the Secret Service and French security details trying to navigate a local courthouse. The spectacle would be unlike anything we've seen.
The Macrons' lawyer, Tom Clare, says the couple is prepared. They want to set a precedent. They want to show that being a public figure doesn't mean you're a punching bag for "verifiably false and devastating lies."
The Financial Stakes
The lawsuit seeks "substantial" damages. We're talking millions. Beyond the money, the Macrons want an injunction. They want the videos taken down. They want the podcast scrubbed. Owens, however, has already promised to bring back the Becoming Brigitte series for a new season.
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She’s not backing down. Neither are they.
What Happens Next?
Legal experts are divided. Winning a defamation case in the U.S. is notoriously difficult. You have to prove the person knew they were lying. Owens will likely argue she truly believes her "investigation."
The Macrons will argue that when you're presented with a birth certificate and photos of a pregnancy, "believing" otherwise is no longer a mistake—it's malice.
If you want to follow this case accurately, stay away from the TikTok clips and "hidden truth" threads. Look at the court filings. The Delaware Superior Court records will eventually show whether Owens' motion to dismiss holds water or if we’re heading for the most bizarre jury trial of the decade.
Keep an eye on the official statements from the Élysée Palace and the filings in the Delaware Superior Court. If this goes to discovery, the amount of personal information made public will be unprecedented for a sitting world leader. You can track the case status through public legal databases like LexisNexis or by following reputable journalists covering the Delaware court circuit.
Actionable Insight: To stay informed on the legal progression, verify updates through the Delaware Superior Court public access portal or legal news outlets like Law360. Avoid relying on social media snippets which often conflate the French cyberbullying convictions with the ongoing U.S. civil defamation case.