The First Lady of France, Brigitte Macron, is fighting a major legal battle. Her fight is not against a political enemy. It is a fight against a false claim spread online. The claim is that she was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux. This claim is completely untrue. Jean-Michel Trogneux is her brother.
This ongoing fight has reached a crucial point. It is now a quest for justice on two continents. In October 2025, ten people went on a criminal trial in Paris for online harassment. Before that, she filed a major US defamation lawsuit against a powerful American commentator.
This article gives a trial overview. It explains both court cases. It shows why Brigitte Macron is fighting to protect her name and her family’s well-being against what she calls “relentless bullying.”
The False Claim: Jean-Michel Trogneux Brigitte Macron
The central lie in all the court cases is the same. It is the Jean-Michel Trogneux rumor. This rumor says that Brigitte Macron was born male and later transitioned to become a woman.
The people spreading this claim often point to the age difference between her and her husband, President Emmanuel Macron. This age difference is 24 years. The spreaders of the lie often mix the false gender claim with comments equating the age difference to “paedophilia.”
This lie started in small online groups. But it was later picked up and shared by powerful people on social media and on big American podcasts. This turned a small French rumor into a global problem.
The French Trial: Cyberbullying Charges
The most important current case is the criminal trial in Paris. This case is different from a regular lawsuit. It is a criminal case because Brigitte Macron filed a complaint with the police about online harassment.
- Who is on Trial? Ten people are on trial. They include eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60. They are regular people, but also include an elected official and a publicist known for spreading conspiracy theories.
- The Charge: The defendants are accused of criminal cyberbullying. This charge is very serious. If they are found guilty, they could face up to two years in prison.
- The Harm: The chief judge said that the comments caused a “deterioration” in Brigitte Macron’s “physical and mental health.” Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified at the trial. She said the rumors hurt her mother’s quality of life. She said the family worries because her grandchildren hear at school that their grandmother is a man.
The defendants deny the charges. Some say their posts were “just humour” or “satire.” But the court is focused on the actual harm the comments caused to the First Lady.
The US Lawsuit: Seeking Substantial Damages Brigitte Macron
The second major fight is the US defamation lawsuit. This case was filed in July 2025 in a court in Delaware.
- Who is Being Sued? The Macrons are suing a very popular American right-wing commentator, Candace Owens. This commentator has millions of followers and strongly amplified the false claim on her podcast.
- The Claim: The lawsuit says that Candace Owens has waged a “campaign of global humiliation” with “verifiably false and devastating lies.” The Macrons say they sent proof that the claim was false, but Owens ignored it and kept repeating the lie.
- Seeking Justice: The Macrons are seeking “substantial” money damages. They want to show that spreading these types of harmful lies for fame and profit must stop.
- Scientific Evidence: The Macrons’ lawyers have said they are ready to submit scientific evidence to the U.S. court. This evidence will prove that Brigitte Macron was born female.
The US defamation lawsuit is a rare legal fight. It pits a powerful world leader and his wife against a popular American media figure. This case explores the difficult balance between free speech and harmful misinformation legal battle in the digital age.
Previous Legal Battles Brigitte Macron
This quest for justice is not new. Brigitte Macron and her brother have been fighting this rumor for years.
- Early Defamation Win: In 2024, a Paris court ordered two women who first spread the claims to pay fines and damages. This was a win for Brigitte Macron.
- Appeal Overturn: However, an appeals court later overturned that ruling. The appeals court did not say the claims were true. It only ruled that the case did not meet the definition of defamation.
- Highest Court: Brigitte Macron and her brother have taken that case to France’s highest appeals court to challenge the decision. This shows their strong commitment to protecting their name.
Misinformation Legal Battle
The Brigitte Macron quest for justice is a powerful stand against online bullying and misinformation legal battle. The current criminal trial in Paris against ten people and the US defamation lawsuit against a major US figure show how determined she is to stop the lie.
The trial overview shows the seriousness of the situation. Brigitte Macron and her family have suffered from the “hateful” comments and the spread of the false Jean-Michel Trogneux rumor. The court cases aim to set a clear precedent. They seek to confirm that even public figures deserve a right to privacy and freedom from harmful, obvious lies.
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