French embassy fires witty riposte at Trump using viral Louvre ‘detective’

French Embassy’s viral comeback

The French Embassy in the United States has earned a wave of praise on social media after posting a sharp, humorous response to remarks made by American President Donald Trump. Drawing on the viral image of the so-called “detective” from the recent Louvre jewellery heist, the embassy delivered a pointed comeback after Trump appeared to make an offhand slight about the French.

During an interview on Fox News, host Laura Ingraham questioned Trump about the number of Chinese students enrolled at American universities, saying, "They are not the French, they are Chinese. They spy on us. They steal our intellectual property." Trump swiftly cut in, replying: "Do you think the French are better, really? I will tell you, I'm not so sure."

As the clip circulated widely online, the French Embassy responded with a witty post featuring the now-famous “detective”, poking fun at Trump’s comments.

“Come on, we've got WAY BETTER spies than China,” the Embassy of France in the US wrote on X , alongside the image of the man from the Louvre incident — dressed in a three-piece suit, gold waistcoat and fedora.

Come on, we've got WAY BETTER spies than China https://t.co/QjLAt6spGR pic.twitter.com/r13kOMC9XU— Embassy of France in the U.S. (@franceintheus) November 13, 2025

Who Is the “Fedora Man”?

The man, who had already inspired jokes about being a lead investigator or a disguised suspect, became the perfect foil for mocking the president’s remarks. The picture had gone viral following the Louvre robbery, with users speculating that the so-called “Fedora Man” was either a detective, an inside accomplice or even an AI creation.

However, according to Associated Press photographer Thibault Camus, who captured the image, the individual was simply a passer-by. He has since been identified as 15-year-old Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux, a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot who lives with his parents and grandfather 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 been visiting the Louvre with his mother and grandfather when the photograph was taken. The museum was closed at the time, prompting him to ask officers 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.