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French President Emmanuel Macron is once again in the spotlight. But it’s not for what you think. He’s garnered attention for wearing a pair of bright reflective sunglasses while addressing the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
Once the images of the president at the summit went viral, social media users jumped to doing what they liked best - speculating. Many wondered if the French president was socked by his wife Brigitte, while others stated that he resembled a clown.
But the look did raise a few eyebrows as the president donned the reflective sunglasses amid delivering remarks against the backdrop of fresh tensions with the United States and President Donald Trump.
Here is all you need to know about Macron’s quirky look.
Macron’s sunglasses look at Davos
On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. As he discussed European solidarity amid US President Donald Trump’s threat to annex Greenland, attention shifted away from his words.
The buzz was all about his blue-tinted mirrored aviator sunglasses.
However, Macron’s look wasn’t about fashion. In fact, over the past few weeks, he has been seen wearing the eyewear.
The French president was first seen donning the eyewear during an outdoor military inspection, where his eye appeared puffy and red. Clearing the air, Macron stated that he was suffering from a minor eye injury that led to his right eye being visibly swollen and reddened, which he described as a ‘completely harmless’ condition.
Macron even joked about it, calling it “l’oeil du tigre” or the “eye of the tiger”, in a reference to rock band Survivor’s song used in the 1982 boxing movie Rocky III.
“For those who get the reference, it’s a sign of determination,” he said.
According to French media reports, the condition was caused by a burst blood vessel. This doesn’t affect the vision, neither does it cause any permanent injury to the eye.
Experts note that it sometimes occurs when a person sneezes or coughs vigorously, or pokes or rubs their eye. Those with diabetes and high blood pressure are more at risk of suffering from the condition.
Macron “opted for this style for aesthetic reasons, because he’s a public figure,” medical doctor and media commentator Jimmy Mohamed told French broadcaster RTL.
“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.”
Speculations on Macron’s quirky look
Once the images from the WEF were broadcast the world over, social media users wasted no time to jump to speculations. Many wondered if it was a bold fashion statement, a subtle attempt to look unfazed in a room that included Donald Trump, or the diplomatic equivalent of hiding a long night in the Swiss Alps?
One of the X users wrote, “Look at that clown Emmanuel Macron responding to President Trump wearing gas station sunglasses.”
Another user said, “OMG. Emmanuel Macron is now telling people that he has a burst eye vessel and must therefore wear these sunglasses inside. Public speculation is that Brigitte whooped his ass again. What do you guys think?”
Macron wears sunglasses to give speech in Davos. What a pillock! pic.twitter.com/142DPQ1JgE
— Peter Lloyd (@Suffragent_) January 20, 2026
The moment sparked discussion about the health of his marriage, with users recalling the infamous Brigitte Macron slap incident. Last year, a video of French First Lady Brigitte Macron hitting her husband went viral on social media.
In the footage captured by an Associated Press camera operator, the French president is seen at the plane’s doorway upon arriving in Hanoi when his wife’s hand appears to push him, making him step back before he recovers and waves.
https://youtube.com/shorts/1bUT3AV9V0w?si=g2lVeDF3Zjo0QMY6
The video created quite a buzz on social media, with people attacking Brigitte Macron. Later, the 48-year-old president clarified that it was a playful gesture.
Macron, Trump war of words
At Davos, the focus lies on Trump’s threat to Greenland. Macron said Europe would not give in to pressure or intimidation, delivering a sharp rebuke of President Trump’s threat to impose steep tariffs if Europe refused to allow him to take over Greenland.
He further said that Europe will continue to stand up for territorial sovereignty and the rule of law, despite what he called a shift towards a world without rules. That could include the EU responding with its own steep trade sanctions.
According to The Independent, Macron is not believed to meet Trump at Davos.
With inputs from agencies
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