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What have been the most persistent rumors about Brigitte Macron's children's birth?
Executive summary
The most persistent rumors claim Brigitte Macron was born male — often framed as her having been “Jean‑Michel Trogneux” or a transgender woman — and that she is not the biological mother of her three children; these claims have circulated since about 2021 and intensified online, prompting legal action by the Macrons in France and the United States [1] [2]. French authorities and multiple news outlets report the allegations are unsubstantiated, widely debunked as conspiracies, and have triggered cyber‑harassment investigations and trials of people accused of spreading the claims [3] [4].
1. The core rumor: “She was born a man (Jean‑Michel Trogneux)”
The dominant, recurring conspiracy asserts Brigitte Macron was actually born male under the name “Jean‑Michel Trogneux” and later presented as a woman; this version was popularized online by long videos and social posts beginning around 2021 and has been repeatedly amplified by influencers and commentators [1] [5]. News organisations and the Macrons’ legal filings describe that precise formulation — the alleged “Jean‑Michel” identity — as central to the disinformation campaign [6] [7].
2. Variants: questioning motherhood and “masculine” features
A secondary thread of the rumors contends Brigitte is not the biological mother of her three children or relies on visual cues (her walk, jawline, clothing) to argue she is “masculine” or deceptive; these narratives were used in viral videos that presented conjecture about photographs and family relationships as proof [5] [3]. Reporters note those claims are speculative and based on selective interpretation of images rather than verifiable records [5].
3. How the rumors spread and who amplified them
Investigations trace the acceleration of the conspiracy to a 2021 video by an “amateur journalist” and spiritual medium that recycled and expanded the narrative; social platforms and a handful of high‑profile amplifiers — including U.S. commentator content — helped the claims reach international audiences, prompting a transatlantic legal response [1] [2]. News outlets say some U.S. figures repackaged the story for large followings, which the Macrons cite in defamation suits filed in Delaware [8] [2].
4. Official and journalistic responses: “baseless” and damaging
Mainstream news organisations reporting on the 2025 prosecutions and civil suits frame the rumors as baseless disinformation that has caused measurable harm to Brigitte Macron’s mental health and family life; her daughter testified to a deterioration in her mother’s health and daily anxiety about public appearances as a result of the online attacks [8] [6]. French police and prosecutors opened investigations into cyber‑harassment, leading to arrests and a Paris trial of people accused of spreading the allegations [4] [9].
5. Evidence, fact‑checking and counterclaims
Fact‑checking outlets and reporting cited by Newsweek and others indicate instances such as a male name showing on a tax‑site display were attributed to tampering or cyber‑incidents rather than confirmation of identity, and authorities treated such anomalies as part of an investigation into online manipulation [7] [10]. Several press accounts emphasise there is no publicly verified documentary evidence supporting the claim that Brigitte Macron was born male; instead, they say the story relies on conjecture, doctored items and recontextualised images [7] [5].
6. Legal fallout and free‑speech tensions
Ten people faced charges in France for sexist cyberbullying related to the campaign; defendants in court argued free expression, while prosecutors framed the activity as group harassment and defamation — a legal flashpoint that highlights tensions between tackling online harms and protecting speech [3] [9]. The Macrons also initiated defamation litigation in the U.S. against at least one high‑profile amplifier, underscoring how the rumor migration across borders has complicated remedies [8] [2].
7. What reporting doesn’t say (limitations)
Available sources do not mention any verified birth or medical records that substantiate the claims that Brigitte Macron was born male or that she changed sex; reporting instead documents the origins, spread, legal response and personal impact of the rumors [1] [6]. If you are seeking primary documentation affirming or refuting the biographical claim, current reporting shows authorities and mainstream outlets treat the allegation as unproven and as harmful misinformation rather than established fact [7] [4].
Conclusion: multiple consistent threads — the “Jean‑Michel” identity, attacks on motherhood, and visual‑based assertions — form the persistent rumors about Brigitte Macron’s children and birth; reputable outlets and legal actions characterise these narratives as baseless conspiracies with real‑world consequences, and official investigations have focused on the harassment and manipulation that propelled them [1] [4].