Donald Trump came under fire for his attire at Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, April 26, with critics accusing him of breaching the expected dress code. However, newly surfaced images and reactions online suggest that the backlash may have been premature—or even unfair.
The former president, 78, attended the funeral service held in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, joining a global lineup of prominent leaders. Among those in attendance were Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, France’s Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Prince William.
Trump’s choice of a blue suit stirred controversy, with some alleging he disrespected formal protocol. According to reports, male attendees were encouraged to wear black suits, black ties, and a black button on the left lapel as a sign of mourning. Meanwhile, Melania Trump, a devout Catholic, followed tradition in a black dress and veil.
Criticism mounted shortly after Trump shared a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!” The wording raised eyebrows and added to online chatter.
But much of the outrage was fueled by a cropped photograph circulating on social media, showing Trump in his blue suit with no context. In reality, an uncropped version of the image revealed that he wasn’t alone in wearing non-black attire—other dignitaries, including Prince William and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, also opted for similar tones.
The full photo’s emergence has led many online to push back against the criticism, arguing that the reaction was overblown and selectively framed.
