"Trying to Look Tough in Sunglasses"... Trump Mocks Macron

Macron Wears Sunglasses After Eye Injury
Trump Mocks Macron's "Cool Sunglasses" Remarks

U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked controversy with mocking remarks directed at French President Emmanuel Macron, who appeared wearing sunglasses.

Emmanuel Macron, President of France, is delivering a speech at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland on the 20th. Photo by France24 YouTube

According to Euronews and other sources on the 21st (local time), President Trump commented at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (commonly known as the Davos Forum) held in Davos, Switzerland the previous day, "I saw Emmanuel Macron yesterday, and he was wearing some very cool sunglasses." He added, "I actually like President Macron," which drew laughter from the audience. Trump further remarked, "President Macron was trying to look tough."

According to the ?lys?e Palace, the French presidential office, President Macron suffered a burst blood vessel in his eye on the 20th and wore sunglasses to protect his injury while delivering his speech at the Davos Forum. In his address, Macron did not directly mention the U.S. plan to incorporate Greenland, but he stated, "Europe will stand up to those who bully the weak and will not accept the law of the strong."

Following Macron's speech, various memes related to the incident spread online. Some commented that he wore sunglasses reminiscent of the American film "Top Gun" to criticize Trump over the Greenland issue, while others mocked or criticized him.

During his speech, President Trump also shared an anecdote related to pharmaceutical price negotiations. He claimed that he persuaded countries that intended to double the price of American prescription drugs in just three minutes, and asserted that he told President Macron at the time, "You have been taking advantage of the United States for the past 30 years."

This year's Davos Forum took place amid heightened tensions between the United States and Europe over the issue of Danish-controlled Greenland. Previously, President Trump had threatened to impose a 200% tariff on French wine and champagne after President Macron declined to participate in his proposed Gaza Peace Committee. Trump stated, "President Macron is a politician who will soon be finished, and nobody wants him," adding, "If they act in a hostile manner, I will impose a 200% tariff on French wine and champagne, and then he will join in."

President Trump also recently made public private messages exchanged with President Macron. The unilateral disclosure of confidential communication between the two leaders has been characterized as "shaming diplomacy." In the released messages, President Macron addressed Trump as "my friend," expressed that he "cannot understand" the Greenland strategy, and suggested holding a Group of Seven (G7) meeting in Paris on the 22nd to discuss the issue, inviting Trump to join him for dinner.

Meanwhile, France has recently taken a strong stance against President Trump's territorial expansion plans. President Macron referred to the European Union's "Anti-Coercion Instrument," known as the "trade bazooka," and warned that using territorial sovereignty as a means of pressure in connection with the Greenland-related tariff threats is "fundamentally unacceptable."