Why Donald Trump broke Vatican rules and wore blue suit to pope’s funeral
On April 26, Donald Trump appeared at Pope Francis’ funeral in a bright blue suit, standing out from the crowds of dignitaries who were mostly dressed in black. After breaking the Vatican’s rules for a sacred papal funeral, the President was slammed by online users for being “so disrespectful” – but there might be a good reason he chose to “stick out” from the rest.
In February, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Donald Trump and JD Vance at the White House, he was greeted by the president who scoffed: “You’re all dressed up!”
Zelenskyy was wearing a black military style outfit to his meeting, and Trump did not approve of his attire.
However, at the open-air funeral for Pope Francis on April 26, where world leaders, dignitaries and legions of faithful followers gathered to pay their respect to the spiritual leader who died April 21, Zelenskyy mostly followed the Vatican’s rules and appeared in a tailored all-black, more formal outfit than he wore to Washington D.C.
This time, it was the President of the U.S. who was dressed inappropriately.
Dress code
According to SkyNews, the dress code for a papal funeral “requires men to wear a dark suit with a long black tie and a button of the same colour on the left lapel of the jacket, where only Vatican honours can be placed. They are allowed to wear white shirts.”
Trump wore a white shirt under a bright blue suit that he paired with a light blue tie, while Melania followed Vatican protocol and appeared in a traditional black outfit – even on her 55th birthday.
Former President Joe Biden and Prince William, who was representing King Charles III, also wore classic dark blue suits that closely aligned with the Vatican’s expectations.
‘Center of attention’
And social media exploded.
“One guy shows up in a blue suit to the Pope’s funeral. You will never guess who,” American criminal defence attorney and former state and federal prosecutor Ron Filipkowski tweeted.
“Can you believe Trump wore a blue suit and was so disrespectful at the Pope’s funeral? He makes everything all about him!” shared a second.
Referring to Zelenskyy’s February visit to the White House, actor Billy Baldwin offered his thoughts on Trump’s choice of fashion: “What’s worse? Zelenskyy not wearing a suit in the Oval Office…Or Trump, in a heavy drool… wearing a blue suit at the funeral of Pope Francis?”
A fourth netizen writes, “Donald Trump couldn’t even be respectful and wear a black suit to Pope Francis’ funeral like the rest of world leaders. He always has to stick out and try and be the center of attention.”
Meanwhile, not everyone blasted the U.S. President.
One suggested his blue suit signaled “rebirth, sovereignty, authority.” “Every world leader in black. Trump alone in blue. This was not just a funeral. It was a transition of power,” shares one netizen.
Another adds, “Trump should had worn a white suit, just to really make a lasting impression.”
Why he wore blue
While Catholics typically follow strict traditions when it comes to funeral attire, not all faiths hold the same expectations.
That might explain why Trump, a non-denominational Christian, Prince William from the Church of England, and President Murmu, who is Hindu, were all seen wearing blue instead of black. It’s possible their outfit choices were a subtle reflection of their non-Catholic backgrounds, rather than a break in respect.