Macron’s Davos sunglasses reflected Trump-Macron friction
During the assembly of global leaders in Davos, Switzerland, the reflective shades donned by French President Emmanuel Macron drew attention in ways that words could not convey. Concealing an unsightly yet what Macron describes as a benign medical issue with his right eye, the sunglasses infiltrated news feeds, elicited a remark from US President Donald Trump, and inspired memes along with an AI-generated parody of Macron as a fighter jet pilot, accompanied by Kenny Loggins “Danger Zone” from the Tom Cruise classic “Top Gun.” Trump remarked during his address at Davos “Those beautiful sunglasses.” Here’s what to understand about the now renowned shades and their implications regarding Macron and politics: The spectacles According to Macron’s office, the shades were produced by the French firm Henry Jullien, as per reports. The model in question was the Pacific S 01, which is not inexpensive, with a retail price of 659 euros ($775) listed on the manufacturer’s website. It faced challenges with demand following Macron’s appearance in them during a powerful speech in Davos, a level of publicity that is invaluable.
A dedicated page was launched to capitalize on the buzz, stating, “our eShop website is experiencing an exceptional volume of visits and enquiries.” Shares of its Italian parent company, iVision Tech SpA, soared on Milan’s stock exchange – from 1.51 euros ($1.78) a share when Macron spoke Tuesday, to a high Friday of 2.63 ($3.10).”Crazy week,” said Stefano Fulchir. “I am very honored and happy that President Macron has used our eyewear in this important event.” Macron purchased the glasses in 2024, following verification from his office that they were made in France, Fulchir stated. Today, I received a call from a radio station, and they played the Top Gun music. “So it’s amazing,” he said. “In the last three days, I have only managed to sleep four hours each day, as we lack the time to respond to everyone.” Macron exudes confidence. Wearing sunglasses indoors, as he did, requires a certain boldness – and some observers note that he executed this choice with remarkable flair. “He does look hot,” said Cristina Archetti.
In contrast to “older-looking politicians who are particularly gray, dull, or some unnatural colour – orange – not mentioning any name,” Archetti remarked that 48-year-old Macron appeared “relatively young and super cool” – partly due to the blue-tinted lenses that photogenically complemented the blue background. “Images are so important, particularly good images with great colour, so I mean he ticks the boxes,” she said.”I was looking at the various memes, to the Terminator, to James Bond,” she said. “One could envision him seated at the casino, savoring the champagne.” The dangers associated with sunglasses For politicians accountable to their constituents and dependent on their trust, out-of-context sunglasses may imply that they are potentially concealing something. During his tenure as president of the United States, Joe Biden was often seen wearing aviator sunglasses. In 2021, prior to the deterioration of relations caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a pair.
However, unless the sun is shining brightly, as it did when Biden and his aviators met Queen Elizabeth II in 2021, it is generally reasonable to conclude that political leaders require a medical or other understandable justification to wear sunglasses indoors. Former US president Bill Clinton captivated audiences with blues-club shades as he performed “Heartbreak Hotel” on his saxophone during Arsenio Hall’s show in 1992, all while campaigning for the presidency.”We don’t typically associate sunglasses with politicians,” said Marco Bohr. They represent a feeling of separation. Generally, that is not the objective of politicians. “They’re trying to create a sense of connection with the audience or with people,” he said. In that regard, the sunglasses that Macron was wearing truly capture attention.” Autocrats have also established shades. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was seen wearing large dark glasses during a visit to a coal mining complex. “Perhaps it’s again related to the honesty,” Archetti said. “Perhaps they conceal themselves behind the sunglasses, aware that they possess something to conceal.”
Trump against Europe At the Davos gathering, which was largely dominated by Trump’s contentious relationship with Europe and disputes over Greenland and other sensitive issues, Macron’s eyewear will stand out as a symbol, according to Fulchir. Bohr remarked that Macron “could have worn an eye patch.” Clearly, that would have indicated a multitude of other aspects, including pirate culture. “He could have also chosen Ray-Ban Wayfarers, which …. signify a kind of jazz and cool,” he added. “But no, he opted for the aviator-style … They represent something quite particular – about pilots, about maintaining control.”
