The US president has been dubbed a ‘disgr.ace’ after apparently ‘disrespecting’ protocol during Pope Francis’ funeral.
The beloved late pontiff was laid to rest on Saturday (April 26) at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome after a requiem mass at St Peter’s Basilica.Pope Francis tragically passed away on Easter Monday, which prompted hundreds of thousands to pile into the Vatican to pay their respects.
More than 200,000 people attended the funeral procession at St Peter’s Square to pay homage to the former head of the Catholic Church, who died from a stroke and heart complications at age 88, including royalty and 50 world leaders.
Among the VIP line-up were US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, as well as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Prince William.
However, a handful of the attendees appeared to strike a chord with the millions of viewers who tuned in to watch, and not for the right reasons.
Trump, especially, has been slammed for not just one but several moments of ‘disgraceful’ behavior at the funeral, after his very presence sparked backlash after it was suggested he only went to appeal to his Catholic voters.Here are all Trump’s controversial moments.
Trump’s blue suit
Viewers were quick to point out that Trump stuck out like a sore thumb among the sea of black-clad attendees as he instead opted to wear a bright navy suit.
The traditional attire for a Catholic funeral is black, the color of mourning, and is worn to show respect to the recently deceased.
The POTUS wasn’t the only one to break the all-black funeral attire either, as Prince William similarly donned a dark blue suit.
However, other people of faith don’t follow the same stringent rules, leaving some to believe Trump and William decided against wearing a black outfit as a symbol of their lack of Catholicism.
Standing on the carpet
Suit aside, Trump was also seen getting a bit too near to Pope Francis – in that his toes overstepped the carpeted boundary around the coffin.
According to The Art Newspaper, attendees cannot step on the carpet beneath the coffin as it symbolizes the ‘holy ground’ that is reserved for the late pontiff.
Yet instead of respectfully approaching the foot of the coffin to pause in a moment of reflection and prayer, both Trump’s and Melania’s shoes tiptoed onto the sacred rug.
By contrast, other mourners managed to keep a distance from the coffin and the rug around it.
Texting, sleeping, and chewing gum
There are some subtle signs your body language can indicate you might be feeling a little bored, and then there are the blatant signs, like scrolling on your phone, falling asleep,p and chewing gum.
Well, Trump seemingly managed to do all of the above during various points in the funeral after viewers spotted him using his phone, briefly ‘nodding off’, and later chewing gum, all while sitting in the front row.
At one point, the POTUS could be seen learning forward to type on his cellphone in his hand before looking up and putting it away.
Later on, he unsealed a packet of gum and chucked it into his mouth while the service went on, and could be seen catching some zzz’s with his eyes closed and his mouth agape, all while sitting in the front row and in full view of the cameras.
While Trump was the only one seen munching and snoozing away, it is worth noting that several others were seen using their devices during the ceremony, and several snapped pics of the pope’s coffin as it went by.
Leaving the pope’s funeral early
Trump also didn’t waste any time in getting out of there once the funeral finished, either, as viewers noted he made a very quick exit to travel back to the US.
Many were just as quick at slamming the president’s behaviour at the funeral on social media.
“Of course, Trump is the only jacka** wearing a blue suit and blue tie to a funeral….such an embarrassment,” said one.
“Donald Trump couldn’t even be respectful and wear a black suit to Pope Francis’ funeral like the rest of the world leaders. He always has to stick out and try and be the center of attention,” raged another.
A third chimed: “Trump at the Pope’s funeral. No traditional black suit, hunched over and sleeping! Just blasphemous!”
Meanwhile, a fourth summed the whole debacle up, writing: “Trump fell asleep at the Pope’s funeral, he walked on the rug that was under the casket (a big no no), refused to wear a dark suit, said he was looking forward to a fun trip (it’s a freaking funeral, nimrod) and left well before it was over.
“Sheesh.”
