At Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican City on Friday, April 26, Donald and Melania Trump stood among thousands of mourners, including world leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who gathered to honor the late pope. The solemn occasion marked a rare face-to-face meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy since their tense encounter at the White House months earlier.
Donald Trump, unmistakable in a bright blue suit among the predominantly black-clad crowd, and Melania, wearing a traditional black blazer, skirt, and lace veil, were seated prominently among the dignitaries. Cameras captured their arrival and several moments throughout the service.
During one of those moments, as the congregation stood midway through the two-hour ceremony, a brief exchange between Donald and Melania caught the attention of viewers. Nicola Hickling, a professional forensic lip reader from Lip Reader Limited, later claimed to have deciphered Trump’s words. According to her, he said, “I’ll go over and speak to him,” while Melania gave what appeared to be a subtle side-eye glance but no verbal response.
It wasn’t clear exactly whom Trump intended to approach. However, his presence at the funeral wasn’t just about paying respects. Speaking to Fox News afterward, Trump emphasized the significance of his appearance, saying, “I just thought it was out of respect. I won the Catholic vote — by a lot — and I think that’s the first time a Republican ever did. I have a great relationship with Catholics. Very simple.”
He continued, “We did well with the Catholic vote — I got 56% — and honestly, I don’t know how they got any of the rest.”
Melania’s Catholic faith has long been part of her public identity. She made history as the first Catholic First Lady in the White House since Jacqueline Kennedy. Her connection to the church deepened during a 2017 visit to the Vatican, where she and Donald Trump met Pope Francis. Melania brought rosary beads to be blessed and later called the visit unforgettable. Reflecting on the encounter on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “Today’s visit with His Holiness Pope Francis @Pontifex is one I’ll never forget. I was humbled by the honour. Blessings to all.”
As Pope Francis was laid to rest, the Trumps’ presence — and even their brief private moment caught on camera — added another small but notable chapter to a day already steeped in history.
