As world leaders convened at St. Peter's Basilica to solemnly bid farewell to Pope Francis, the attire of US President Donald Trump became an unexpected point of discussion.
Departing from the Vatican's established dress code for papal funerals, Trump arrived on Saturday in a dark blue suit, complemented by a light blue tie and his signature American flag lapel pin. According to Vatican protocols, outlined in official manuals and reported by the Italian daily Il Messaggero, male attendees were expected to wear a dark suit, paired with a black tie and a black lapel pin. The prescribed attire for women included a long black dress with a matching veil and gloves, with minimal accessories.
In contrast, First Lady Melania Trump adhered to the Vatican's etiquette, appearing in a long black ensemble and veil.
While former US President Joe Biden and the UK's Prince William also opted for dark blue suits, their attire was notably more subdued compared to the current US President's choice.
Political analyst Molly Ploofkins took to X, writing, "According to the dress code required by Vatican officials for Pope Francis' funeral, men were required to wear a dark suit, along with a long black tie. Trump shows up in blue."
Here's how others reacted to the incident on social media:
Conversely, political strategist Joey Mannarino offered a contrasting view, stating, "Trump at the Pope's funeral is just exuding complete and total class. Absolutely the image America should be projecting to the world."
In a subsequent post defending the President's attire, Mannarino wrote, "The dress code for the Pope's funeral was a 'dark suit'. A navy blue suit and tie combination is dark and it looked great on Trump. He looked slender, fit and about twenty years younger than his chronological age. Prince William and King Abdullah had navy on as well. You guys are acting like he pulled an Obama and wore a tan suit. If the worst you can do to the man is point out that his suit wasn't the right shade of color for you (racist) you really have nothing."
The unexpected sartorial divergence of the US leader sparked debate, contrasting with the solemnity of the occasion and the adherence to tradition by other world figures present.
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