French President Emmanuel Macron made headlines at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, not only for his stern rebuke of US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats but also for his striking choice of eyewear.
Macron delivered his speech wearing blue reflective aviator sunglasses indoors, a bold accessory that quickly became a talking point among world leaders and on social media.
Rebuke of Trump’s Tariff Threats
In his address, Macron criticized Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on eight European countries opposed to his proposed takeover of Greenland. He warned against a shift towards autocracy and “a world without rules, where international law is trampled underfoot” and “imperial ambitions are resurfacing.”
He added that tariffs should not be “used as leverage against territorial sovereignty,” underscoring Europe’s resistance to unilateral economic pressure.
The Eyewear Mystery
While Macron did not explain his choice of sunglasses during the speech, French media reports attributed it to an ongoing medical condition. Last week, he appeared at a military event in southern France with a visibly red eye and wore similar sunglasses.
Addressing troops, Macron downplayed the issue, describing it as “totally benign” and “completely insignificant.” He even joked about it, calling it “l’oeil du tigre” the “eye of the tiger” referencing Survivor’s famous song from Rocky III.
“For those who get the reference, it’s a sign of determination,” he said.
Medical Explanation
French reports suggested Macron was suffering from a sub-conjunctival haemorrhage, a broken blood vessel in the eye. The condition is harmless, painless, and does not affect vision. It usually clears within two weeks and can be triggered by sneezing, coughing, or rubbing the eye. People with diabetes or high blood pressure are more prone to it.
Medical commentator Dr. Jimmy Mohamed told RTL that Macron’s sunglasses were more about image than health:
“Some people might think he’s ill, so to avoid being photographed in that state, he decided to wear sunglasses. The glasses protect his image, but not really his eye.”
Social Media Buzz
Macron’s decision sparked lively debate online. Some users called him “kéké” — French slang for a show-off while others joked he looked like a “cyborg” or was channeling Tom Cruise in Top Gun, the 1986 film that popularized aviator sunglasses.
Whether worn for medical reasons or style, Macron’s sunglasses added an unexpected twist to his Davos appearance. While his speech focused on defending international law and warning against autocracy, it was his eyewear that captured global attention blending politics, health, and fashion in one memorable moment.
