A simple pair of President Macron sunglasses became an unlikely focal point at the World Economic Forum in Davos, after President Donald Trump used them to mock the French leader during a combative speech criticizing European allies.
Donald Trump reacts to President Macron’s sunglasses
Amid a wide-ranging critique of European trade, immigration, and energy policies, Donald Trump paused his remarks to single out Emmanuel Macron’s sunglasses from a previous day’s event. “I watched him yesterday with those beautiful sunglasses,” Trump said, getting audible laughter from the audience in the Swiss alpine resort. He followed the personal jab with a broader, rhetorical condemnation: “What the hell happened?”
The sunglasses in question were dark aviators worn by Emmanuel Macron, who later cited an eye condition for needing them. However, the moment was less about optics and more about a major diplomatic rift. Trump’s quip served as a sarcastic preface to his substantial grievances. Primarily, his renewed and forceful demand for the United States to acquire Greenland from Denmark.
After all, Macron has been central in organizing European opposition to Trump’s pursuit of Greenland. The president dismissed it as “a piece of ice” vital for American security. In his own speech, the French president took aim at Trump’s style and rhetoric, telling leaders gathered in Davos that “we do prefer respect to bullies.” The remark was widely read as a direct response to Trump’s comments (via New York Post).
Moreover, President Macron’s sunglasses diss was just a small part of Trump’s 72-minute address. He went on to criticize Switzerland. He recalled how former Swiss president Karin Keller-Sutter had “rubbed me the wrong way.” In fact, he accused multiple European nations of benefiting economically at the expense of the United States.
Trump also blasted Europe’s energy policies, immigration approaches, and reliance on wind power, arguing they had weakened once-strong economies. While much of the speech was confrontational, the offhand crack about President Macron’s sunglasses stood out for its casual tone.
