French President Emmanuel Macron Responds For First Time To Rumors That Wife Brigitte Is Transgender

French President Emmanuel Macron shut down claims his wife, Brigitte Macron, was born a man. On International Women’s Day, Macron, 47, addressed the rumors that his wife, 70, is transgender, saying they were misogynistic attacks.

“The worst thing is the false information and fabricated scenarios,” said President Macron. “People eventually believe them and disturb you, even in your intimacy.”

Two French women were fined after spreading these rumors. However, they were able to reduce their fines on appeal, claiming they were intimidated by authorities to cover up a “state secret.” The women have been identified as Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey.

In December 2021, Roy and Rey were featured in a four-hour YouTube video in which they said Brigitte was born as a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux, the name of her brother.

Macron’s step-daughter Tiphanie Auziére briefly mentioned the rumors in an interview with Paris Match.

“I have concerns about the level of society when I hear what is circulating on social networks about my mother being a man.”

Auzière also discussed how hurt she felt when her mother, 40 at the time, pursued a relationship with the 15-year-old Macron.

The transphobic claims against Brigitte were used to try and damage Macron’s re-election campaign in 2022 by far-right French groups.