The passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, left the Catholic world in mourning. His death followed a series of health complications, including pneumonia and heart failure, that had plagued the pope in his later years. As the world grappled with the loss of a deeply beloved spiritual leader, an unfortunate incident involving Donald and Melania Trump quickly became the subject of controversy.
The couple, in a post shared on Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform, announced their intention to attend Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome. While the statement seemed innocuous at first, the language used—particularly the phrase “look forward to being there”—was widely perceived as insensitive in the context of the funeral of a global religious leader.
The backlash to the post quickly snowballed, prompting social media users, commentators, and critics to express their dismay at the tone of the announcement. Many felt that the phrasing of the post was out of step with the solemnity of the occasion, making it seem as if the Trumps were anticipating the funeral like any other public event rather than approaching it with the reverence and respect it warranted.