PARIS (AP) — A lawyer for France ‘s first couple said they’ll be seeking “substantial” damages from U.S. conservative influencer Candace Owens if she persists with claims that President Emmanuel Macron ‘s wife, Brigitte, is a man.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte filed a defamation lawsuit in the U.S. on Wednesday against right-wing influencer and podcaster Candace Owens, centered on her claim that France's first lady is male.

Upon his election to the office of the presidency of France in 2017, Emmanuel Macron believed that, like his exemplar Charles de Gaulle, he was not just riding the wave of history, but that he was in fact mastering it.

French President and first lady Brigitte Macron filed the 22-count lawsuit against Candace Owens in Delaware Superior Court.

Brigitte Macron has faced more scrutiny and conspiracy theories than most first ladies, and her political work is always overshadowed by her personal life.

A senior source close to President Macron warned Paris would not back down in its bid to impose huge levies on US tech giants and block American firms from winning lucrative government contracts

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on Wednesday to try to resolve differences over the FCAS Franco-German-Spanish fighter jet project by the end of August, a German government spokesperson said.