Melania fans love her 'modest' Pope funeral outfit while Trump slammed for suit
Melania Trump has been praised online for showing "modesty" at
Pope Francis' funeral
, while the President has been criticized over his suit choice.
The First Lady and her husband,
Donald Trump
, touched down in
Rome
last night and today joined world leaders gathering to pay their respects for the late pontiff, who died aged 88 on Easter Monday. Today, as they arrived at the Vatican,
Melania
wore a black dress paired with a black veil, while Trump donned a blue suit.
His outfit choice drew criticism online, as most people attending the funeral wore black - and a person wrote on X, "Respect? He's not even wearing a black suit. At least Melania is attending the funeral in all black including a modesty black veil."
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Another person praised Melania, saying, "First Lady Melania wearing the traditional lace veil, in respect and flowing tradition as she and @POTUS arrives at the Funeral of Pope Francis. @FLOTUS is so classy, and follow decorum." One more said, "Melania looked a Perfect First Lady."
The President and First Lady stand alongside leaders including France's President Emmanuel Macron and Finland's President Alexander Stubb
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
A person added, "I was wondering why Donald Trump wore a blue suit. Now I understand. He stands out from the crowd. Meanwhile, Melania is in full traditional dress for a Catholic funeral." One tweeted, "Trump is a supreme embarrassment."
Meanwhile, lip reading expert Nicola Hickling exclusively told us what Melania told her husband when they got out of Air Force One on Friday evening. Nicola said Trump told his wife, "Ready," to which Melania responded, "Of course."
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As they got down the stairs after leaving the plane, Trump smiled as he greeted those who gathered to welcome him and Melania. He then said, "It was a good flight, thank you," Nicola said. According to the lip reader, the President then said, "We will see you when we meet Macron."
While at the funeral, the First Lady and President were seated in the front row, not far from French President Emmanuel Macron, for the outdoor service. Trump also met briefly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before the service, both the White House and Zelensky's office confirmed. White House communications director Steven Cheung said they "met privately today and had a very productive discussion" and that more details would follow.
On Friday, Trump told reporters that he was going to the funeral "out of respect" for the pontiff, who pointedly disagreed with him on a variety of issues including immigration, the treatment of migrants and climate change. The Argentine pontiff and the American president sparred early in their relationship over immigration.
Trump and Melania arrive for the funeral at St Peter's Square at The Vatican
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
In 2016, Francis, alluding to then-candidate Trump and his campaign slogan of "Build the wall," called anyone who builds a wall to keep out migrants "not Christian." Trump said the comment was 'disgraceful.' But after Francis' death, the Republican president praised him as a "good man" who "worked hard" and "loved the world."
Trump also directed that US flags be flown at half-staff in Francis' honor. Trump had said on a couple of occasions before leaving Washington that he would have "a lot" of meetings with counterparts on the sidelines of the funeral. But he seemed to back away from that as he flew to Rome.
Trump said he would attend the funeral 'out of respect' for the late pontiff
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
"Frankly, it's a little disrespectful to have meetings when you're at the funeral of a pope," the president told reporters accompanying him aboard Air Force One. Nonetheless, Trump said, "I'll be talking to people. I'll be seeing a lot of people." The leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Hungary and Argentina are among those who attended.
One person Trump didn't expect to interact with is former President
Joe Biden
, a practicing Roman Catholic who attended with his wife, Jill Biden. Wearing his signature aviator sunglasses, Biden was seated several rows behind Trump, who had said he didn't know his Democratic predecessor would be at the funeral. Asked if they'd meet, Trump said, "It's not high on my list. It's really not."
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