{"id":440433,"date":"2025-09-21T07:45:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-21T07:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/440433\/"},"modified":"2025-09-21T07:45:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T07:45:18","slug":"why-frances-macron-is-forced-to-prove-that-his-wife-is-not-a-man-firstpost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/440433\/","title":{"rendered":"Why France\u2019s Macron is forced to prove that his wife is not a man \u2013 Firstpost"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s a case as shocking as bizarre. French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, will provide \u2018scientific\u2019 evidence in a US court to disprove claims she is transgender. We take a deep dive into this case, the fallout of Charlie Kirk\u2019s killing and more in our weekly wrap<\/p>\n<p>More than 10 days after he was shot dead on a college campus, Charlie Kirk, the American right-wing activist and Donald Trump ally, will be laid to rest today. The shocking killing has put the US at a dangerous crossroads\u2026 the ideological divide in the country is only widening.<\/p>\n<p>Trump and his circle have been all praise for Kirk; they have also been cracking down on those who might have been critical of the activist-influencer. The US president has declared Antifa, a far-left movement, a \u201cmajor terrorist organisation\u201d. The late-night comedy show<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/world\/united-states\/jimmy-kimmel-live-taken-off-air-indefinitely-after-hosts-remarks-on-charlie-kirk-shooting-13934688.html\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/world\/united-states\/jimmy-kimmel-live-taken-off-air-indefinitely-after-hosts-remarks-on-charlie-kirk-shooting-13934688.html\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cJimmy Kimmel Live\u201d has been taken off the air indefinitely<\/a> over commentary on Kirk\u2019s assassination, raising questions about free speech in the country.<\/p>\n<p>STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n<p>Amid all this, Donald Trump was in the UK for a state visit with his wife, Melania, which can be summed up in two words:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/donald-trump-uk-state-visit-day-1-highlights-state-banquet-king-charles-13934712.html\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/donald-trump-uk-state-visit-day-1-highlights-state-banquet-king-charles-13934712.html\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pomp and protests<\/a>. The two-day trip included a warm reception by the British royal family at Windsor Castle, and then a bilateral with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, the country house of the premier. The two leaders spoke about trade, defence, and international conflict.<\/p>\n<p>In a rather odd case, French President Emmanuel Macron will be providing proof in a US court to prove that his wife, Brigitte, is a woman. The Macrons are suing American far-right influencer and political commentator Candace Owens for defamation after repeatedly alleging that the French First Lady was assigned male at birth.<\/p>\n<p>A few geopolitical developments in the week have given India reasons to watch out. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/world\/india-says-will-study-national-security-implications-of-saudi-pakistan-strategic-defence-pact-13934714.html\/amp\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/world\/india-says-will-study-national-security-implications-of-saudi-pakistan-strategic-defence-pact-13934714.html\/amp\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mutual defence pact<\/a>. And the US has said it will revoke the sanctions waiver granted for operations at<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/india-trump-withdrawal-of-sanctions-waiver-iran-chabahar-port-implications-13935018.html\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/india-trump-withdrawal-of-sanctions-waiver-iran-chabahar-port-implications-13935018.html\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Iran\u2019s Chabahar Port<\/a>, which will have implications for India.<\/p>\n<p>Pakistan was left red-faced once again. It lies on Operation Sindoor are being exposed, this time by none other than its homegrown terrorists. We talk about all this and more in our weekly roundup.<\/p>\n<p>1. The US is still reeling from the assassination of Charlie Kirk. As the probe into the killing continues, more and more details emerge about Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused from Utah. Robinson was reportedly in a relationship with his roommate,<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/lance-twiggs-tyler-robinson-trans-partner-charlie-kirk-13933768.html\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/lance-twiggs-tyler-robinson-trans-partner-charlie-kirk-13933768.html\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lance Twiggs<\/a>, a trans person. A<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/tyler-robinson-lance-twiggs-text-messages-charlie-kirk-13934419.html\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/tyler-robinson-lance-twiggs-text-messages-charlie-kirk-13934419.html\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">text conversation<\/a> between the two after the shooting reveals a possible motive. Did Robinson kill Kirk because of his hateful views on transgender rights?<\/p>\n<p>STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n<p>2. Days after the assassination, Donald Trump declared Antifa a major terrorist organisation. What is this extreme left group that the US administration has targeted? Did Tyler Robinson, who is said to have leftist views, have links to this body?<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/antifa-trump-terror-organisation-charlie-kirk-killing-13934763.html\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/antifa-trump-terror-organisation-charlie-kirk-killing-13934763.html\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">We explain<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img nw18-src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/tyler-robinson-2025-09-372f719df48b65c970b907f228790f91.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><b>Defence attorney Greg Skordas speaks before judge Tony Graf, as Tyler Robinson, accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk, attends a virtual court hearing from prison on September 16, in Utah. The Deseret News via AP<\/b><\/p>\n<p>3. Is the US no longer a space for free speech? The killing of Charlie Kirk has led to a spate of firings and suspensions. The most high-profile among them is late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. His hit show \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live\u201d has been taken off the air indefinitely after his remarks about Kirk\u2019s murder. This is not an isolated case. Several reporters have been forced to step down, and the<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/jimmy-kimmel-charlie-kirk-assassination-pentagon-crackdown-free-speech-13934760.html\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/jimmy-kimmel-charlie-kirk-assassination-pentagon-crackdown-free-speech-13934760.html\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pentagon is cracking down on social media<\/a> posts of American troops.<\/p>\n<p><img nw18-src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/jimmy-kimmel-2025-09-43dfbc624b7451a7d4d641b620e3ff19.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><b>A demonstrator holds a sign outside El Capitan Entertainment Centre, where the late-night show \u2018Jimmy Kimmel Live!\u2019 is staged, in Los Angeles. The programme has been taken off the air after Kimmel commentated about the Charlie Kirk assassination. AP<\/b><\/p>\n<p>4. Donald Trump, meanwhile, visited the UK for a two-day state visit. There was pomp, pageantry and protests. Even though many demonstrated against the visit, the British royals and leadership rolled out the red carpet for the President and First Lady, Melania.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/trump-uk-visit-tech-prosperity-deal-us-investment-13935047.html\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/trump-uk-visit-tech-prosperity-deal-us-investment-13935047.html\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Here\u2019s what the country got in return<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<img nw18-src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/trump-ukvisit-2025-09-3c76c244e15effa28fcc67dc29c0cd62.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><b>US President Donald Trump attends a Beating Retreat military ceremony at Windsor Castle, England, on September 17, the day one of his second state visit to the UK. PA via AP<\/b><\/p>\n<p>5. France\u2019s Macrons find themselves in the middle of an ugly lawsuit. They are planning to present photographic and scientific evidence to a US court to prove French First Lady Brigitte Macron is a woman. The couple will present the documents in a defamation suit against right-wing influencer<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/candace-owens-emmanuel-macron-brigitte-lawsuit-explained-13911586.html\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/candace-owens-emmanuel-macron-brigitte-lawsuit-explained-13911586.html\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Candace Owens<\/a>, who has repeatedly said that Mrs Macron was born male.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/france-brigitte-emmanuel-macron-woman-defamation-suit-candace-owens-13934889.html\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/france-brigitte-emmanuel-macron-woman-defamation-suit-candace-owens-13934889.html\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">We look at the case<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img nw18-src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/BrigetteMacro-2025-09-fc0cdad1697dcfdef14e8e09ce834d41.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><b>In July this year, the Macrons filed a defamation case against Candace Owens over her claims that France\u2019s First Lady, Brigette, was born a man. File photo\/Reuters<\/b><\/p>\n<p>6. In a big development that has alerted India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a defence pact on Wednesday (September 17). The agreement states that \u201cany aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both\u201d. In a cautious statement, the Indian government said that it will \u201cstudy the implications\u201d of this development for its national security as well as for regional and global stability. But what could this deal mean for New Delhi?<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/pakistan-saudi-arabia-defence-pact-should-india-worry-13934832.html\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/pakistan-saudi-arabia-defence-pact-should-india-worry-13934832.html\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">This explainer analyses<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>7. Guess who is exposing the Pakistani establishment. Believe it or not, their homegrown terrorists. Jaish-e-Mohammad\u2019s Masood Ilyas Kashmiri inadvertently said something that India has long accused its neighbour of \u2013 supporting the terror outfit. He said that<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/pakistan-jem-terrorist-army-chief-asim-munir-support-terrorism-13934400.html\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/pakistan-jem-terrorist-army-chief-asim-munir-support-terrorism-13934400.html\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pakistani army chief Asim Munir<\/a> ordered senior military officials to attend the funerals of those killed in Operation Sindoor. That\u2019s not all. A Lashkar commander also spoke about its<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/from-to-munir-to-muridke-how-terrorists-are-exposing-pakistan-bit-by-bit-13935132.html\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/from-to-munir-to-muridke-how-terrorists-are-exposing-pakistan-bit-by-bit-13935132.html\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">headquarters being hit in May<\/a>, even as Pakistan continues to claim that it does not harbour terrorists.<\/p>\n<p>STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udea8 \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf0\ud83d\udc7a After Jaish commander ilyas kashmiri now Lashkar-e-Taiba Commander Qaasim has torn apart Pakistan\u2019s lies on Muridke terror camps.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 Standing in front of the demolished Markaz E Taiba camp, which destroyed in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OperationSindoor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#OperationSindoor<\/a>, he admits that many terrorists\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/S80p9wLSFy\">pic.twitter.com\/S80p9wLSFy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 OsintTV \ud83d\udcfa (@OsintTV) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OsintTV\/status\/1968865125567226361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>That\u2019s all from us this week. This reading list will get you up to date with world news. You can also find more such explainers<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>PS: If you are reading this on your phone, if Mark Zuckerberg is to be believed, you could soon be ditching it for<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/mark-zuckerberg-meta-connect-ray-ban-display-oakley-vanguard-smart-glasses-13934815.html\" id=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/mark-zuckerberg-meta-connect-ray-ban-display-oakley-vanguard-smart-glasses-13934815.html\" class=\"body_anchor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Meta\u2019s smart glasses<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s a case as shocking as bizarre. French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, will provide \u2018scientific\u2019&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":440434,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5309],"tags":[48798,149042,2000,299,36,43,149041,149043],"class_list":{"0":"post-440433","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-france","8":"tag-brigitte-macron","9":"tag-emmanuel-macron-wife","10":"tag-eu","11":"tag-europe","12":"tag-france","13":"tag-macron","14":"tag-this-week-in-explainers","15":"tag-why-is-marcon"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115241177772696130","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=440433"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440433\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/440434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=440433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=440433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=440433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}