Controversy! Gabriel Attal renames Macron's campaign accounts "Attal President." Subscribers are outraged

Q: Subscribers who are discovering "supporting" Attal

Several users of X and Instagram discovered they were now following an account called "Attal président" (Attal for President). The problem: many of them explained they had never subscribed to such an account. The account boasts approximately 35,000 followers on Instagram and over 50,000 on X. Internet users immediately denounced this method as confusing, with some publicly expressing their surprise at finding themselves subscribed to a campaign account they hadn't chosen to follow under that name.

Q: Macron 2022 accounts recycled for Attal

Gabriel Attal and his team reportedly obtained accounts supporting Emmanuel Macron that had been created for the 2022 presidential election. The names, logos, and visual identity were then allegedly changed to reflect Attal's own accounts. Content published before May 22nd was reportedly deleted, giving these pages a new appearance as accounts newly dedicated to Attal's candidacy. It should be noted that data displayed by X indicates the account's username has changed seven times since its creation in November 2021.

Q: The Élysée Palace was reportedly not informed.

The affair has taken on an additional political dimension. According to La Tribune du Dimanche, the operation was carried out without the Élysée Palace being informed. The newspaper indicates that the presidency had not been notified of this alteration of the accounts. This detail fuels the idea of a new moment of tension within Macron's inner circle, as Gabriel Attal seeks to establish his own momentum for 2027 while gradually distancing himself from Emmanuel Macron's direct legacy. The former Prime Minister officially announced his candidacy on May 22, 2026, in Mur-de-Barrez, Aveyron, with the stated intention of forging his own presidential path.

Q: Renaissance takes responsibility and speaks about party accounts

Faced with the controversy, Renaissance denies the idea that personal accounts supporting Emmanuel Macron were being misappropriated. The party's communications department stated that, in its view, these were accounts belonging to Renaissance, created in 2021 as part of the "With You" campaign, and subsequently reused during several elections. The party specifies that these accounts had already been used for the European elections with Valérie Hayer, and then for the 2024 legislative elections, a campaign led by Gabriel Attal. Renaissance therefore maintains that there was "no one to notify," since these accounts belong to the party and not to a personal network supporting the head of state.

Barely had Gabriel Attal officially announced his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election when he found himself at the center of a digital controversy. According to The Sunday TribuneThe former Prime Minister and leader of Renaissance is alleged to have recovered campaign funds used during the campaign.Emmanuel Macron in 2022, before renaming them “Attal for president” on social media. The operation surprised many internet users, who discovered they were subscribed to these accounts without having voluntarily registered on a page supporting the new candidate.

Subscribers who are discovering "supporting" Attal

Several users of X and Instagram discovered that they were now following an account called “Attal for president”Problem: many of them explain that they have never subscribed to such an account. The account displays approximately 35 000 subscribers on Instagram et over 50,000 on XInternet users immediately denounced a method deemed confusing, with some publicly expressing surprise at finding themselves subscribed to a campaign account they had not chosen to follow under that identity.

Macron 2022 accounts recycled for Attal

Gabriel Attal and his team allegedly obtained accounts supporting Emmanuel Macron that had been created for the 2022 presidential election. The names, logos, and visual identity were then reportedly changed to reflect accounts supporting Gabriel Attal. The content published before the May 22 These accounts would have been deleted, giving these pages a new appearance of accounts newly dedicated to Attal's candidacy. It should be noted that the data displayed by X indicates that the account's username has changed. seven times since its creation in November 2021.

The Élysée Palace was reportedly not informed.

The case is taking on an additional political dimension. According to The Sunday TribuneThe operation was reportedly carried out without the Élysée Palace being informed. The newspaper indicates that the presidency had not been notified of this alteration of the accounts. This detail fuels the idea of a new moment of tension within Macron's inner circle, as Gabriel Attal seeks to establish his own momentum for 2027 while gradually distancing himself from Emmanuel Macron's direct legacy. The former Prime Minister officially announced his candidacy on May 22, 2026, in Mur-de-Barrez, Aveyron, with the stated intention of forging his own presidential path.

Renaissance takes responsibility and speaks about party accounts

Faced with the controversy, Renaissance disputes the idea of using personal accounts supporting Emmanuel Macron. The party's communications department indicated that, in its view, these were accounts belonging to Renaissance, created in 2021 as part of the "With You" campaign, and then reused during several elections. The party specifies that these accounts had already been used for the European elections with Valérie Hayer, and then for the 2024 legislative elections, a campaign led by Gabriel Attal. Renaissance therefore believes that there was no misappropriation of these accounts. "person to notify", since these accounts would belong to the party and not to a personal network supporting the head of state.

A controversy over methodology at the worst possible time

Fundamentally, the affair raises a sensitive question: to what extent can a party reuse campaign accounts without clearly informing followers of a change in political identity or the candidate being promoted? Even if Renaissance defends a logic of party continuity, the episode gives the impression of a poorly managed communication operation. For Gabriel Attal, who has just launched his presidential campaign, this controversy comes at the worst possible time: it muddles his initial message and fuels criticism of a candidacy that is highly structured, tightly controlled, and already very aggressive on social media.

The first setback in an already tense campaign

Gabriel Attal wanted to launch a new political chapter. Instead, he inherits a controversy surrounding transparency, digital methods, and the ownership of online activist communities. At this stage, the affair does not call into question the legality of the operation. However, it raises an initial question about his campaign: will his conquest of 2027 also involve recycling the tools of Macron's 2022 campaign?