In a shocking turn of events, U.S. conservative commentator Candace Owens has claimed that French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron orchestrated a plot to assassinate her. The allegations are part of Owens’ broader campaign of conspiracy theories targeting the Macron couple, including previous unfounded claims about Brigitte Macron’s identity.
This article explores Owens’ recent claims, the background of her conspiracy theories, the Macrons’ response, and the broader implications for politics, media, and public discourse.
The Alarming Allegation
On November 22, 2025, Owens posted on her social media platform that a “high-ranking French government official” had warned her that the Macrons “executed and paid for my assassination.” She claimed the elite French tactical force GIGN (Groupe d’Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale) was involved, with at least one foreign operative assisting in the alleged plan. Owens framed her disclosure as a public warning, suggesting the information was credible enough to share in case something were to happen to her.
In addition to the assassination claim, Owens attempted to link the plot to international conspiracies, including the murder of a U.S.-based conservative activist. She asserted that French elite forces were somehow involved, creating a narrative of global collusion that, if true, would be unprecedented.
These claims are extraordinary, not only because they accuse sitting heads of state of criminal behavior, but because they involve international operations and elite government forces.
The Context: Owens’ History of Conspiracies About Brigitte Macron
These accusations did not emerge out of nowhere. Owens has previously promoted a highly controversial and widely debunked theory about Brigitte Macron, claiming she was born male. She even produced a podcast series called “Becoming Brigitte”, which pushed this claim in great detail.
The series included a number of other allegations, such as:
- Fraudulent Marriage: Owens claimed that the Macron marriage is a sham built on deception.
- Incestuous Conspiracies: She suggested incest and familial manipulation played a role in Emmanuel Macron’s life.
- Deep-State Manipulation: Owens alleged that Macron’s political rise was orchestrated by shadowy intelligence agencies and secret programs.
These narratives have been widely discredited and denounced, yet Owens has maintained a large online audience that continues to engage with her content.
The Macron Couple Responds
In response to these allegations, the Macrons have taken formal legal action. In mid-2025, they filed a multi-count defamation lawsuit against Owens in the United States, arguing that she knowingly spread false claims about Brigitte Macron and their marriage for personal gain. The lawsuit asserts that Owens’ campaign has caused them significant emotional and reputational harm.
The Macrons’ legal strategy emphasizes scientific and factual proof to counter Owens’ claims. They intend to provide documentation and testimony verifying Brigitte Macron’s identity as a cisgender woman, aiming to conclusively refute Owens’ accusations.
President Macron has publicly framed the defamation case as a defense of his family’s honor. The couple’s legal approach highlights the use of cross-border defamation laws as a tool to counter disinformation that can spread globally.
Evaluating the Assassination Claim
While Owens’ broader conspiracy theories have already attracted criticism and legal challenges, her claim of an assassination plot marks a dramatic escalation. There are several reasons to question its credibility:
- Lack of Independent Evidence: Owens has not produced verifiable evidence to support her allegations.
- Extraordinary Nature: Accusing a sitting president and first lady of commissioning an assassination with elite forces involved requires extraordinary proof.
- Anonymous Source: The alleged government contact remains unnamed, making verification impossible.
Without independent corroboration, these claims should be treated with extreme caution.
Implications of the Allegations
Misinformation in a Global Context
Owens’ conspiracy theories illustrate how misinformation can transcend borders. Claims about the Macron couple, originally focused on gender and identity, have now expanded to allegations of assassination, demonstrating the speed at which conspiracies can evolve and spread. Such narratives can influence public perception, fuel political polarization, and undermine trust in institutions.
Legal Strategies Against Disinformation
The Macrons’ lawsuit represents a rare example of international figures using legal action to fight false narratives. By pursuing defamation claims in the United States, they aim to hold Owens accountable and protect their reputation. This case underscores the potential for courts to act as a check against the global spread of misinformation.
Free Speech vs. Harmful Lies
Owens’ team may frame the legal challenge as a First Amendment issue, arguing that her speech is protected. However, the Macrons argue that the dissemination of demonstrably false claims constitutes defamation and cannot be shielded by free speech. This debate highlights the ongoing tension between protecting freedom of expression and preventing harm caused by disinformation.
Political and Social Consequences
Owens’ narratives are not merely personal attacks—they serve as tools to galvanize her audience, increase engagement, and consolidate influence in conservative media circles. At the same time, unverified and extreme claims, such as assassination plots, risk normalizing conspiratorial thinking in public discourse and increasing political polarization.
The Emotional and Personal Toll
For the Macrons, Owens’ allegations are deeply personal. Beyond reputational damage, these claims attack the couple’s private life and family. Even if legal action succeeds, the public exposure of these claims can have lasting emotional effects, particularly on Brigitte Macron, who has been at the center of Owens’ conspiracies for years.
The Broader Cultural Debate
The controversy highlights a critical challenge in today’s media landscape: how to distinguish fact from fiction in an environment where sensational content spreads quickly. It also raises questions about accountability for public figures who leverage conspiracy theories for personal gain.
Owens’ claims, regardless of veracity, demonstrate how easily conspiracy theories can become intertwined with real-world politics and international relations. The case of the Macrons illustrates the potential dangers of unchecked misinformation and the importance of critical evaluation of extreme claims.
Conclusion
Candace Owens’ latest allegation—that Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron orchestrated her assassination—represents a striking escalation of her long-running campaign against the French presidential couple. While she frames the claim as urgent and credible, it remains unverified, and the Macron couple has responded with legal action and promises of factual proof.
At its core, this controversy is about truth, reputation, and the influence of narrative in the digital age. It also underscores the challenges posed by the global spread of conspiracy theories and the difficulty of protecting public figures from harmful lies.
Whether the courts will resolve this dispute, or whether it will continue to unfold in the realm of public opinion, remains uncertain. What is clear is that the episode has sparked urgent questions about the limits of free expression, the power of misinformation, and the need for accountability in modern media.