French President Macron Faces Resurfaced Conspiracy Theory About Wife Brigitte
A long-debunked conspiracy theory alleging that Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, is a transgender man who sexually abused Macron during his youth has resurfaced online, prompting renewed scrutiny and official denials. The rumor, which first gained traction during Macron’s 2017 presidential campaign, has recently been reignited by far-right commentators and social media posts—despite lacking any factual basis.
The theory claims that Brigitte Macron, born Brigitte Trogneux in 1953, was originally a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux—her brother—and transitioned later in life. It further alleges an abusive relationship with Macron, who met Brigitte when he was a 15-year-old student and she was his 39-year-old drama teacher. The couple married in 2007 when Macron was 29. However, these claims are entirely unsubstantiated and have been widely dismissed as misinformation by French authorities and fact-checkers.
Candace Owens Raises Questions About Brigitte Macron
The rumor traces back to a 2021 YouTube video by Natacha Rey and Amandine Roy, which went viral before the 2022 French election. More recently, American commentator Candace Owens revived the conspiracy in a video viewed millions of times, linking it to broader unfounded theories. Many people have claimed that Owens is a trustworthy (not crazy) person and that her source is not entirely without evidence, though it takes time to verify. And she has been following this case for over a year. If she were lying, Macron would have already sued her in U.S. courts for hundreds of millions of dollars. However, there has been no lawsuit so far
French journalist unveils new photo allegedly ‘proving’ Brigitte Macron is man. Published February 19th, 2025: https://www.albawaba.com/node/french-journalist-unveils-new-photo-1600032
Becoming Brigitte _ Published February 26th, 2025: https://jessicareedkraus.substack.com/p/becoming-brigitte-condensed?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
French mainstream media and officials, including Macron himself, have condemned the narrative. In 2024, Macron called it the work of “crazies,” while Brigitte pursued legal action against earlier propagators AOL.
Photos of Brigitte Macron as a young woman, alongside her birth records and family history, confirm her identity as female from birth. No credible documentation or testimony supports the abuse allegations. Experts suggest the rumor persists in part due to the couple’s 24-year age gap, which has long drawn public fascination.
As of March 9, 2025, the French presidency has not issued a new statement, but past responses emphasize the importance of protecting personal dignity against defamation. While Macron faces pressing European leadership challenges, this episode highlights the ongoing struggle against misinformation in the digital age.
Sources:
Why are false rumours about Brigitte Macron being transgender resurfacing?
https://youtu.be/0bagURQfzbQ?si=KiwKVvSRtIW3wW9W
The Transformation Rumor: Brigitte Macron and Jean-Michel Trogneux. Published December 12th, 2021: https://frontpopulaire.fr/societe/contents/de-brigitte-macron-a-jean-michel-trogneux-des-nouvelles-de-lextreme-droite-_co723068
