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WASHINGTON (TDR) — Right-wing commentator Candace Owens escalated her feud with former ally Donald Trump by asking the president whether he was "gay" and suggesting he had slept with French First Lady Brigitte Macron "when he was a man" during a podcast monologue Friday.

The big picture: The attack represents a stunning rupture between two of the MAGA movement's most prominent voices, triggered by Trump's defense of Brigitte Macron against Owens's long-running conspiracy theory that she was born male.

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  • Owens has promoted the theory that Brigitte Macron is secretly transgender through her "Becoming Brigitte" podcast series
  • The Macrons have filed a defamation lawsuit against Owens in Delaware
  • Trump broke with Owens Thursday, posting that the First Lady is "a far more beautiful woman than Candace, in fact, it's not even close"

Why it matters: The spectacle of a leading conservative commentator questioning the president's sexuality marks a new level of intra-movement warfare, with potential ripple effects across right-wing media alliances.

  • Owens's "Becoming Brigitte" series has drawn millions of views and been promoted by Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson
  • Trump's rebuke threatens Owens's standing with the MAGA base that drives her subscription revenue
  • The fight exposes fractures in the conservative coalition over anti-trans rhetoric and conspiracy theorizing

Driving the news: Owens lashed out after Trump posted a lengthy Truth Social diatribe Thursday defending the French First Lady and calling Owens "crazy."

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  • Trump wrote he hoped Brigitte Macron wins her defamation suit against Owens
  • He accused Owens of being an attention-seeking "NUT JOB" who "will say anything necessary for some 'free' and cheap publicity"
  • On her podcast Friday, Owens responded: "Are you gay? Did you sleep with him when he was a man?" according to Mediaite
  • She also posted on X: "It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home"

What they're saying: Both sides are digging in, with Owens framing Trump's intervention as personal betrayal and the president dismissing his former ally as a conspiracy-monger.

  • Candace Owens — "Did you sleep with him when he was a man?"
  • President Trump — "The Highly Respected First Lady of France is not a man, when she is not... I hope Brigitte Macron wins her lawsuit against this crazy person."
  • Owens on X — "It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home"

Yes, but: Owens's attack relies on the same unproven conspiracy theory that triggered the Macrons' lawsuit, and Trump's own history includes promoting false "birther" claims and other baseless conspiracies.

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  • The Macrons have provided documentation refuting Owens's claims, which she has dismissed as fake
  • Trump himself has faced accusations of homophobia despite now defending a target of anti-trans harassment
  • Owens previously claimed Trump called her in February 2025 to ask her to stop discussing Brigitte Macron

Between the lines: The fight reveals the transactional nature of MAGA alliances and the limits of Trump's tolerance for conspiracy theories when they threaten diplomatic relationships or personal friendships.

  • Trump's intervention came after President Macron reportedly asked him directly to silence Owens during a White House visit
  • Owens's shift to attacking Trump's sexuality suggests desperation to regain attention and relevance after the president's rebuke
  • The episode underscores how quickly Trump's allies become enemies when they cross his immediate interests

What's next:

  • The Macrons' defamation lawsuit against Owens continues in Delaware
  • Trump has also attacked other former allies including Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Alex Jones for criticizing his Iran war policies
  • Owens may face further marginalization within conservative media if Trump continues his campaign against her

When a political movement built on conspiracy theories and personality cults turns on itself, who defines the boundaries of acceptable truth?

Sources

This report was compiled using information from Mediaite, International Business Times, Le Monde, and Them.

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