• Emmanuel Macron sported aviator sunglasses during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
• The sunglasses were a gift from French brand Henry Jullien, later confirmed as a protective measure due to a mild eye condition.
• His choice sparked a wave of memes and speculation on social media, with some praising his "Top Gun" look while others mocked it.
• U.S. President Donald Trump also made light of Macron's sunglasses in his own Davos speech.
• The attention caused a surge in interest for the Henry Jullien brand, boosting its stock prices.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, French President Emmanuel Macron turned heads by wearing a pair of aviator sunglasses. This accessory quickly became a focal point, drawing speculation from social media users who debated whether it was a bold fashion choice or a means to conceal a health issue, as he was critiquing U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Greenland during his speech. Macron's office later clarified that the sunglasses were worn to address a burst blood vessel, a mild eye condition, not as part of a political statement or fashion trend, according to India Times and Reuters.

The sunglasses, a model provided by French luxury eyewear brand Henry Jullien, became a social media sensation, with memes and comments flooding in post-speech. Some users referred to his look as a “Top Gun” aesthetic, while others humorously noted it as somewhat ostentatious. Italian right-wing newspaper Libero described Macron as a "great braggart," encapsulating the mixed reactions prompted by his accessory, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The hullabaloo around the sunglasses not only dominated social media conversations but also had tangible effects on the eyewear company involved. Following Macron's appearance, searches for the Henry Jullien brand soared, leading to a spike in website traffic and shares for iVision Tech, which owns the brand. It was reported that their stock price increased nearly 6% due to the publicity, illustrating how a political appearance can influence business dynamics, according to South China Morning Post and Reuters.