French Embassy's Viral Response to Trump Using Louvre 'Detective' Photo Sparks Diplomatic Humor

The French Embassy in the United States delivered a clever retort to Donald Trump's comments with a humorous social media post.

Following remarks made by the American President, the French Embassy in the US earned widespread praise on social media platforms for their witty comeback. They utilized the now-viral image of the 'detective' from the recent Louvre jewelry heist to respond after Trump made what appeared to be a casual dig at French citizens.

During a Fox News interview, host Laura Ingraham was discussing Chinese students at American universities with Trump, stating, "They are not the French, they are Chinese. They spy on us. They steal our intellectual property." Trump interrupted her to reply: "Do you think the French are better, really? I'm not so sure."

After the video segment gained traction online, the French Embassy crafted a sharp response using the famous detective image to mock the US president.

"Come on, we've got WAY BETTER spies than China," wrote the Embassy of France in the US on X (formerly Twitter), alongside the picture of the now-famous "detective" from the Louvre incident—a man dressed in a three-piece suit, gold waistcoat, and fedora hat.

The viral post quickly circulated across social media platforms, drawing attention to the diplomatic yet humorous exchange between the countries.

Who exactly is the 'Fedora Man'? The image of this mysterious figure had already generated numerous online jokes suggesting he was either a lead investigator or disguised suspect. His appearance effectively served to mock Trump's comment about French people. The photo went viral immediately after the Louvre robbery, with many social media users speculating that the 'Fedora Man' was either a detective, an accomplice, or even an artificial intelligence creation.

However, Associated Press photographer Thibault Camus, who captured the picture, revealed that the man was simply a passerby. The mystery man has since been identified as 15-year-old Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux, a Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot enthusiast who resides with his family in Rambouillet, west of Paris.

"I didn't want to say immediately it was me. With this photo there is a mystery, so you have to make it last," Delvaux explained, adding: "In the photo, I'm dressed more in the 1940s, and we are in 2025. There is a contrast."

Delvaux had visited the Louvre with his mother and grandfather when the photographer took his picture. Since the museum was closed due to the heist, he inquired with officers about why the gates were shut.

"We wanted to go to the Louvre, but it was closed. We didn't know there was a heist," said Delvaux.