President Donald Trump was among the first to announce his intention to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21. He attended the service with his wife, Melania Trump.
However, despite the solemnity of the occasion and the presence of over 400,000 mourners—including global dignitaries and royalty—Trump drew attention for behavior widely criticized as disrespectful.
Unlike leaders such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Irish President Michael D. Higgins, and UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who all wore traditional black mourning attire, Trump appeared in a navy blue suit.
The choice sparked backlash on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where users questioned his disregard for funeral norms. One commenter asked, “Why is Trump wearing a blue suit instead of black like everyone else? Maybe Zelenskyy should ask why he didn’t dress more appropriately.”
Although Donald Trump was not the only attendee dressed in a navy blue suit at Pope Francis’s funeral, he faced the brunt of public criticism. Prince William, the Prince of Wales, also wore a navy suit, but the darker shade and his overall demeanor drew far less scrutiny than Trump’s.
Many onlookers viewed Trump’s appearance and behavior as deeply inappropriate. Critics described him as an embarrassment and a disgrace for representing the United States in such a manner at a solemn global event.
One social media user commented, “Texting from the front row during a funeral is the height of disrespect and rudeness—especially from a former President of the United States.” Another wrote, “What a disgrace. Wearing blue instead of black and on his phone during the Pope’s funeral. I’m an atheist, but even I show respect for the dead.”
Pope Francis was laid to rest in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, honoring his personal wishes. This basilica, a site he visited frequently throughout his life, now holds his remains in a simple, unadorned coffin—an uncommon choice for a pontiff. His final words reportedly were: “May the Lord grant a fitting reward to all those who have loved me and who continue to pray for me. The suffering that has marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples.”
In a notable diplomatic gesture, the Kremlin confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin, 72, would attend the funeral. The passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, April 21, came as a shock to the global community. His funeral, scheduled for April 26, is expected to be attended by a wide array of royals, religious leaders, and political figures from around the world.
