by Olivier Acuña Barba •Published: April 26, 2025•16:35•2 minutes read
Donald Trump, who criticized the Ukrainian president for showing up at a White House meeting in military outfit and allowing Elon Musk in a t-shirt inside an oval office, was accused of being rude to break the dress code at Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday.
The US President arrived at the funeral in the Vatican wearing a blue suit and a blue tie. This goes against the strict dress etiquette determined by the sacred she, who must wear a sacred suit, a long black tie and a white shirt. According to the Vatican dress code, shoes, socks, coats and umbrellas must be black.
April 23rd, Italian news outlet Il cresgaggero Published Strict dress code for Pope Francis’ funeral, mandated by the Vatican. “A dark suit with a long black tie and buttons in the same color on the left lapel of the jacket, which can only place the honors of the Vatican,” he wrote. “For women, a black dress of the same colour as the gloves and veil on the head, preferably a long dress, and the only permitted decoration is a pearl string.”
Vatican dress code for Pope’s funeral
Messageri added: “These are prescriptions for those attending a Pope’s funeral, according to the established protocol manual that defines seat arrangements for senior officials and heads of state.” The rule was also broken because Ukrainian President Volodimia Zelensky sat next to Trump.
Zelensky and former President Joe Biden have broken strict etiquette. The former did not wear a tie, while the latter wore a blue tie. Trump, Zelensky and Biden were accused of being disrespectful because world leaders were dressed in black.
Trump was wearing a suit jacket and pins and displaying the US flag. Zelensky wore a black combat coat over his black shirt and pants.
Trump sticks out “like a painful thumb”
According to the Daily Mail, Trump was “blown up by today’s onlookers as he said it was sticking out like a thumbs from other leaders,” the news outlet added: “Alison Graham denounced the US Prime Minister, saying, “Why is Trump the only male world leader wearing a blue suit? Doesn’t he have the right feeling?”
The Vatican dress code line comes just two months after the White House criticized Zelensky for being rude. Several news reports said Trump and Vice President JD Vance were inspired by Ukraine’s usual military attire when he visited the oval office.
Despite being told to wear a suit, Zelensky’s complaints about visiting the White House in military outfits seem contradictory. Because Elon Musk is often seen in oval offices wearing a black T-shirt.
White House double standard
London news outlet The Standard has questioned why masks are allowed in the White House wearing jeans and t-shirts.
“The mask looked like he was eschewing suits and ties and wearing all-black in the great American baseball cap,” wrote BBC’s Nomia Iqbal.
The UK Independence News Outlet wrote:
