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Trump ridicules Macron's indoor sunglasses during Davos speech

Jan 21, 2026, 3:56 PM30
(Update: Jan 21, 2026, 5:14 PM)
president of the United States from 2017 to 2021
President of France and Co-Prince of Andorra since 2017
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Trump ridicules Macron's indoor sunglasses during Davos speech

  • Emmanuel Macron addressed delegates at the World Economic Forum while wearing sunglasses due to an eye condition.
  • Donald Trump made a remark about Macron's appearance during his speech, including threats regarding trade tariffs.
  • The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and France over trade and diplomatic issues.
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During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, French President Emmanuel Macron wore aviator sunglasses while addressing delegates, drawing attention due to a puffy right eye caused by a harmless condition. The situation escalated when U.S. President Donald Trump commented on Macron's sunglasses, questioning, "What the hell happened?" while asserting his affection for Macron to be surprising. Trump's remarks came during a speech on January 21, where he also touched on drug pricing issues and threatened tariffs on French goods, citing America's longstanding grievances against France regarding trade and drug prices. Tensions have been rising between the two nations over various matters, including France's reaction to the U.S. plans regarding Greenland and the imposition of tariffs as an effort to bring about a resolution on these economic disputes. Macron expressed his disapproval of the U.S.'s aggressive trade tactics, suggesting that they are fundamentally unacceptable and warning against the use of tactics that might undermine Europe’s unity. As exceptions to earlier disagreements came forth, Macron remarked the possibility of implementing an anti-coercion mechanism for the first time against the U.S. if those tariffs were enacted, illustrating a significant escalation in diplomatic relations. Trump's jest about Macron's appearance followed heightened scrutiny of their diplomatic ties over issues like trade and geopolitical disagreements, citing the ongoing strain concerning Greenland and tariffs as factors of contention rooted in economic interests. The exchange between the two leaders at this globally significant forum underlines a broader narrative of fraught relations between traditional allies in contemporary times and is particularly reflective of the challenging diplomatic landscape marred by domestic and international disputes.

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