Donald Trump has never been known for holding his tongue.
As the world gets ready to say goodbye to Pope Francis this Saturday, the former U.S. president has once again found himself at the center of controversy.
In a comment that instantly lit up social media, Trump revealed he would be attending the Pope’s funeral — but it wasn’t the news itself that grabbed attention. It was how he phrased it. 👇🏻
Like other global figures, Donald Trump swiftly shared his sympathies after Pope Francis’s passing on April 21. Posting on his platform, Truth Social, the former president wrote: “Rest in peace Pope Francis! May God bless him and everyone who cherished him!”
Trump also used Truth Social to announce that U.S. flags should be lowered to half-staff, describing it as a mark of respect for “the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis.”
Inside Their Relationship
Donald Trump and Pope Francis didn’t always have a smooth connection — and though things eventually turned tense, their relationship actually began on a surprisingly warm note.
In 2013, well before Trump’s presidential days, he spoke highly of the newly chosen pope. “The new Pope is a humble man, very much like me, which probably explains why I like him so much!” Trump tweeted that December. It was classic Trump — a blend of flattery and self-praise.
However, the early goodwill didn’t last.
Pope Francis meets United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the Apostolic Palace on May 24, 2017 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
As their fame on the world stage grew, so too did the cracks between them. What started with mutual praise eventually spiraled into one of the more bizarre and strained relationships between a U.S. president and the leader of the Catholic Church.
Trump and Pope Francis’s time in the spotlight was defined by sharp ideological clashes, particularly over immigration and social justice issues.
Back in 2016, the Pope made headlines by condemning Trump’s proposed border wall, stating: “A person who only thinks about building walls, wherever they may be, and not about building bridges, is not Christian.” Trump, true to form, shot back, labeling it “disgraceful” for a religious figure to question someone’s faith.
Face-to-Face Encounter
In 2017, Donald Trump and Pope Francis met in person during Trump’s visit to the Vatican. Afterward, Trump reflected on the meeting, saying, “He is something. We had a fantastic meeting.”
Despite the initial cordiality, tensions persisted. Throughout Trump’s presidency — and even after his return to office in 2025 — the two continued to clash. Pope Francis criticized the renewed efforts toward mass deportations, calling them a “disgrace” and cautioning that any policy “built on force rather than human dignity begins badly and will end badly.”
While Trump offered a brief farewell, others were more introspective. Vice President JD Vance, a devout Catholic who met with the Pope shortly before his passing, shared an emotional tribute on X: “I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.”
Vance reflected on their final encounter, mentioning that the Pope was visibly ill, but shared that he’d always remember him for one particular message: “I’ll always remember him for the powerful homily he delivered during the early days of COVID. It was truly moving. May God rest his soul.”
A wine tasting in Vatican City?
Despite their stark differences, Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, will be attending the Pope’s funeral — a trip that also marks the president’s first international journey of his second term.
But it wasn’t just Trump’s announcement of attending the funeral that caught attention—it was the way he phrased it that truly raised eyebrows. Here’s what he posted: “Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!”
The online world quickly responded, especially on X (formerly Twitter), where users criticized the U.S. president for appearing tone-deaf and disconnected. Comments ranged from sarcastic jabs to more pointed rebukes. One user joked, “He thinks he’s going to Coachella,” while another simply asked, “Who looks forward to a funeral?”
“We look forward to being there.” A bold choice of words for a funeral. Typically, people mourn the Pope, not treat it like a scheduled event at the Vatican,” one person on X remarked.
The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis’ funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 10 AM local time in St. Peter’s Square.
Following the public service, his body will be moved to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome’s Esquilino district—the same location where Pope Francis had expressed a desire to be laid to rest.
