U.S. President Donald Trump turned heads and elicited chuckles during his World Economic Forum address on January 21, 2026, with a playful roast of French President Emmanuel Macron's indoor sunglasses. "I watched him yesterday with those beautiful sunglasses. What the hell happened?" Trump quipped to the packed hall of global elites, referencing Macron's aviator-style shades from the previous day's events. The off-the-cuff remark, delivered amid discussions on trade and alliances, quickly became the talk of the summit.

Macron's eyewear choice stemmed from a minor medical precaution—a burst blood vessel in his eye that his office described as "totally benign." It followed a recent appearance where his red eye caught notice during a French military review. Despite the explanation, the "Top Gun" aesthetic fueled a meme explosion online, blending high fashion with diplomatic drama. Trump, never one to miss a punchline, wove it into his praise for Macron: "I like him—hard to believe, isn't it?" before pivoting to tougher topics like wine tariffs.

Beyond the humor, Trump's speech highlighted simmering U.S.-France tensions. He warned of retaliatory duties on French luxury goods and pharmaceuticals if Paris pushed unfair pricing, echoing Macron's prior critiques of American protectionism. This exchange at Davos underscores the personal rapport between the leaders amid broader alliance strains, including debates over Ukraine and Greenland—reminders that even summits mix banter with brinkmanship.

Social media lit up with clips and edits, drawing parallels to other leader quirks like Putin's infamous shirtless rides. For 2026's geopolitical stage, it humanizes the power players, boosting engagement on news sites tracking WEF highlights. Macron stayed focused on peace initiatives, proving shades or not, the show goes on.