Macron to present evidence in U.S. court over false claims about First Lady

Paris/Washington:
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to present evidence in a U.S. court to counter defamatory allegations about his wife, Brigitte Macron. The case targets American commentator Candace Owens, who repeatedly claimed that France’s First Lady was born male.

According to legal filings in Delaware, the Macron family will submit photographic, scientific, and documentary evidence, along with expert testimony, to establish that Brigitte Macron is female. The lawsuit argues that Owens deliberately spread falsehoods through social media and a podcast series to damage the couple’s reputation and gain attention.

Owens’ legal team has moved to dismiss the case, framing it as a matter of free speech under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. However, Macron’s lawyers contend the repeated and intentional nature of the claims amounts to defamation and “actual malice.”

The case has attracted international attention, highlighting the growing challenges posed by online disinformation, freedom of expression debates, and the reputational risks faced by global political figures in the digital era.