Tensions between the US and France over the Russian-Ukrainian crisis could have been why Pope Francis’ funeral was not impacted by tensions between Donald Trump.
Before the liturgy honorary of the pope’s life and achievements, President Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to work out a peace agreement with Russia.
Before steering into his meeting with Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron went to greet his colleague by holding his hand tightly.
Trump and Macron took their conversation mano a mano as they reached out to grasp each other’s arms, before tossing one into the other for a handshake, as many assumed is appropriate.
Only the Frenchman never fully returned the gesture as the two engaged in a sharp exchange of words.
In footage, Macron’s hands hang close to Trump’s forearm, as if he has overshot the handshake and pulled back, bringing his other hand up to the US leader’s elbow. The two never looked at each other.
Others now believe the European leader deliberately bypassed Trump with the same professional and fondness practiced on Zelensky – who seemed uncomfortable in that encounter.
And following Melania’s reputedly urging her husband to take part in the Catholic activity, Macron and Trump were seen holding hands during the sign of peace at Francis’ mass.
The relationship that Macron has with Trump has been tense because they both disagreed on how to proceed with the international issue and how much the US and Europe have put toward Ukraine’s aid.
The two spoke together at a White House press conference on the peace agreement for Ukraine in February.
He was set on making Trump correct his error on Europe’s provision of aid to Ukraine, and he was going to warn Trump against giving in to Vladimir Putin’s wants.
Their bromance used to be something Washington talked about. In every narrative about US-French relations, they smiled and held hands in the White House Rose Garden together.
However, that has since deteriorated as a result of the conflict in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader also came under fire by US Vice President JD Vance at a disastrous meeting at the White House in February, when he criticized Zelensky for seemingly ignoring the hand that fed him.
World leaders including then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Macron posted support to Zelensky’s X post, to which he responded, “Thank you for your support.”
But Zelensky and Trump appear to have patched up, as the Ukrainian tweeted after the Vatican meeting of the pair characterized it as a ‘good meeting.’
“Many times, we sat down one on one and talked a lot as well.” He wrote hoping for results on everything we covered. That’s very symbolic meeting, and if we do joint results, that could be a very historic meeting.” Thank you, POTUS.”
The burial of pope Saturday was marred by mistakes from the United States and France: Biden wore a blue tie, Trump a blue suit and Brigitte Macron, Macron’s wife chose not to cover her head.
Formal suit or a modest black dress that fit down below the knee was legal for women to wear while men attending the funeral had to wear a dark suit with a long black tie and a white shirt.
Whether it’s Queen Letizia of Spain, former US First Lady Jill Biden, or Crown Princess Mette.marit of Norway, Melania Trump and hundreds of other women have been forced to wear black headscarves, head coverings or veils as a dress code at a papal funeral.
Yet Brigitte opted instead to leave her hair uncovered, while the first lady of France donned the almost impossible bouffant hairstyle that frothed down the length of her shoulders.
Among those who decided not to wear a black veil to the ceremony this morning in St. Peter’s is Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy. Meloni wore a black pantsuit.
Dressed in a black double breasted blazer, a black pleated long skirt which reached her calves, a matching turtleneck, brigitte attended the solemn event.
