President Donald Trump was among more than 50 heads of state and dignitaries attending the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday. Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, was seated in the front row near French President Emmanuel Macron during the outdoor service at the Vatican.
Speaking to reporters before his departure to Rome, Trump said he was attending “out of respect” for the pontiff, who died Monday at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke.
A complex relationship between Trump and Francis
Throughout his presidency, Trump often found himself at odds with Pope Francis on issues such as immigration, the treatment of migrants, and climate change. Their differences became especially visible during the 2016 election when Francis, referencing Trump’s proposed border wall, remarked that “anyone who builds a wall is not Christian.” Trump fired back, calling the comment “disgraceful.”
Despite these past tensions, Trump praised Francis after his death, calling him a “good man” who “worked hard” and “loved the world.” He also ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the pope.
Brief meeting with Zelenskyy
Before the funeral service began, Trump met privately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Both the White House and Zelenskyy’s office confirmed the meeting. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung described the conversation as “very productive” and said more details would be released later.
Although Trump initially indicated he might have “a lot” of meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the funeral, he reconsidered while en route to Rome. “Frankly, it’s a little disrespectful to have meetings when you’re at the funeral of a pope,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. However, he acknowledged he would still be speaking informally with many leaders.
Notably, Trump did not plan to meet with former President Joe Biden, who also attended the funeral with First Lady Jill Biden. Biden, wearing his signature aviator sunglasses, was seated several rows behind Trump. “It’s not high on my list. It’s really not,” Trump said when asked about the possibility of meeting Biden.
Focus on Ukraine and Russia
As part of his broader diplomatic efforts, Trump is pushing for high-level peace talks between Ukraine and Russia to end the ongoing three-year conflict. After arriving in Rome, he posted on Truth Social calling for urgent negotiations. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin the day before. Trump claimed both sides were “very close to a deal,” although Putin did not attend the funeral.
Following the funeral, Trump was scheduled to return immediately to the United States. Acknowledging the tight schedule, he said there might only be time for a few brief interactions with other world leaders. “We’re going to try and see a couple of people that are important in what we’re doing,” Trump said, highlighting his ongoing efforts in foreign policy and trade.
With inputs from AP