Reason Trump Was On

Pope Francis passed away at age 88 on April 21 from a cerebral stroke and heart failure. His body lay in St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing, drawing hundreds of thousands, including global leaders like Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Keir Starmer, and Prince William. The Vatican discouraged photography during the viewing, but many attendees were criticized for taking selfies. Controversy also surrounded Donald Trump, who wore a blue suit instead of the expected black, chewed gum, and was seen texting during the funeral. Some defended his attire, noting other non-Catholic attendees wore blue as well.

Though initially scheduled to sit in the third row due to alphabetical seating by the French alphabet, Trump ended up in the front row. This change reportedly accounted for complex diplomatic dynamics rather than strict protocol. Lip reader Nicola Hickling shared that Melania urged Trump to partake in the service’s “sign of peace,” prompting him to shake hands with leaders like Macron and Finland’s president. Trump’s wording on Truth Social about “looking forward” to attending the funeral also drew backlash for being inappropriate.