Donald Trump was accused of violating the dress code at the Pope’s funeral when he arrived in a blue suit and tie.
The Vatican’s strict dress code required men to wear a dark suit with a long black tie and a white shirt. Shoes, long socks, coats, and umbrellas all had to be black.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wore no tie, while Joe Biden wore a blue tie. All three have been accused of displaying ‘disrespect’ because the majority of world leaders were dressed in black.
The president sat in the front row with hundreds of foreign dignitaries and royalty, wearing a mid-blue outfit with an American flag pin. He paired it with a shiny blue tie.
Smart, dark outfits are traditionally worn as a sign of respect, and many of the gathered mourners, including Sir Keir Starmer, followed suit.
Melania was seen sitting beside her husband on her 55th birthday, wearing a conservative black coat, lace veil, and gloves.
The world leaders were among hundreds of thousands of mourners who gathered in St Peter’s Square for the funeral, with many waiting overnight to secure a seat.
In his funeral homily, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re described the Pontiff as “a pope among the people, with an open heart,” who aimed to create a more compassionate, open-minded Catholic Church. The ceremony erupted in applause as he praised the pope’s ‘conviction that the Church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open’.
The clothing controversy comes just two months after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was labeled ‘disrespectful’ by a White House reporter for not wearing a suit during a visit to the Oval Office, with reports claiming Trump was irritated by his attire.
Onlookers blasted the president today, saying he stood out ‘like a sore thumb’ among other leaders.
One, Alison Graham, slammed the US president, asking, “Why is Trump the only male world leader who is wearing a blue suit?”
‘Does he have no sense of appropriation? Shame on him.
Another viewer, Sam, commented, ‘How disrespectful Trump is wearing a blue suit to a funeral.’
And a third, Madaelene, raged: ‘Did he not wear a black suit? At least a dark blue one? Where is the respect?
Prince William also received criticism for wearing a dark navy suit to the funeral, despite the fact that he wore a black tie.
The late Pontiff’s funeral dress code required men to wear dark suits, a long black tie, and a button of the same colour on the left lapel of their jacket, where only Vatican honours can be placed.
Women were asked to wear long black dresses, gloves, and a veil, with the only permitted jewelry being a string of pearls.
The Catholic Church requires women to wear black, closed-toe shoes, and Melania chose a pair of simple pumps for the occasion.
She completed the look with an elegant black lace veil, matching gloves, and a simple diamond-studded cross pendant.
Patriarchs and Cardinals were asked to wear white damask mitres, while archbishops and bishops were required to wear an amice, surplice, cincture, and red stole.
It comes just two months after a reporter sparked a White House debate over wartime leader Zelensky’s attire, when he arrived in combat gear – his choice of clothing since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
The Ukrainian premier did not wear a black suit to the Pope’s funeral, instead opting for an all-black combat-style jacket over a black shirt and trousers.
Before the meeting turned into a tense war of words, Trump defended the president’s clothing as a show of support for Zelensky.
‘I like your clothing, by the way,’ Trump added. ‘I am not sure if you two like each other, but I think he (Zelensky) is dressed beautifully.’
However, the president’s comments appeared to contradict reports that the US President was irritated by Zelensky’s attire.
According to Axios, advisers advised the Ukrainian leader to wear a suit as a show of respect when visiting the White House.
And when Zelensky first entered the West Wing, dressed in all black and wearing a jumper emblazoned with the Ukrainian trident, Trump appeared to mock him.
The President shook Zelensky’s hand and said, “He is all dressed up today.”
Glenn’s criticism, as one of several pro-Trump journalists invited into the White House Press Pool following the President’s inauguration, was echoed by his partner, Ms Greene.
She wrote on X shortly after the exchange, ‘I am so proud of you for pointing out that Zelensky has so much contempt for America that he can not even wear a suit in the Oval Office when he comes to beg money from our President!!
Others on social media pointed out that Elon Musk, who visited the Oval Office with Trump last month, did not wear a suit.
The First Lady wore a solemn expression today and remained by Trump’s side, with her presence at the funeral expected to be critical to maintaining peace between him and his predecessor Joe Biden.
In reference to Melania’s role at the funeral, which will also be attended by Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelensky, he told reporters in Washington, ‘She is going to have a great birthday. She has a working birthday.
Biden, 82, was seated two rows behind Trump, who told reporters outside Air Force One that meeting the former president in Rome was ‘not high on my list’.
He also revealed that he had no idea Biden and his wife Jill Biden would attend the funeral at the basilica.
Oh, he is? I did not know,’ he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
When asked if he would meet with the former president, Trump replied, ‘It is not high on my agenda. It is actually not.
Jill, 73, the former first lady of the United States, wore a black blazer and skirt for the solemn occasion as she assisted her husband down the basilica’s steps, similar to Melania.
She wore black sheer tights and pumps, as specified in the dress code, and carried a simple black clutch to the event. Jill also chose a delicate lace veil to cover her head.
Biden dressed in a dark suit for the funeral, but he also wore a blue tie.
The Vatican reported that approximately 200,000 people packed St Peter’s Square and surrounding streets for the ceremony.
The crowds, which were mostly young people, applauded as white gloved pallbearers carried the pope’s coffin out of St Peter’s Basilica, accompanied by more than 200 red-robed cardinals.
In his funeral homily, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re described Francis as ‘a pope among the people, with an open heart’ who aimed for a more compassionate, open-minded Catholic Church.
There was applause as he praised the pope’s ‘conviction that the Church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open’.
The service was led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, who addressed thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square.
However, prisoners and migrants will ultimately lead the pope into the basilica where he will be buried, reflecting his priorities as head of the Catholic Church.
Francis is breaking with tradition by being buried in the St. Mary Major Basilica, where he will be buried in a simple underground tomb bearing only his name: Franciscus.
Pope Francis died on Monday, aged 88, of a stroke and irreversible heart failure at his beloved Casa Santa Marta.
In his final hours, he had joined crowds for an Easter Sunday blessing in St. Peter’s Square. The pontiff had only recently been released from the hospital after five weeks of treatment for an infection that resulted in double pneumonia.
On Saturday, the final leaders from over 150 countries took their seats, with bells tolling.
The massive crowd remained mostly silent, watching the proceedings on several large screens throughout the square.
Applause broke out at the start of the ceremony as 14 white-gloved pallbearers carried the coffin, which was inlaid with a large cross, out of St. Peter’s Basilica and into the square.
The pope’s casket was placed on a carpet in front of the altar, with the book of gospels placed on top, while the Vatican choirs sang.
Choirs sang Latin hymns, and prayers were recited in a variety of languages, including Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, and Arabic, reflecting the Roman Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion members worldwide.
A mass of red-robed cardinals sat on one side of the altar, facing rows of black-suited world leaders on the other.
In front of them stood hundreds of priests dressed in white, followed by thousands of ordinary mourners.
‘I am moved by how many people are present. “It is beautiful to see all these nationalities together,” said Jeremie Metais, 29, of Grenoble, France, ahead of the ceremony.
‘It is similar to the center of the world today.’
‘We want to say goodbye because he (was) a living saint, very humble and simple,’ said Mary James, a Franciscan nun who had stayed up all night to ensure a safe place.
‘You can feel a lot of energy, a little bit of despair because we are tired, but ultimately we want to come and say ‘thank you’ to Pope Francis for everything he has done for his church,’ said Eduardo Valencia, a visitor from Mexico.
The audience applauded when Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re spoke about Francis’ concern for immigrants, his constant pleas for peace, the need for war-ending negotiations, and the importance of the environment.
‘Rich in human warmth and deeply sensitive to today’s challenges, Pope Francis truly shared the anxieties, sufferings, and hopes of his time,’ Re said.
The open-air ceremony, which will be attended by 220 cardinals, 750 bishops, and over 4,000 other priests, was scheduled to last 90 minutes.
