Tension between the US and France over the Russian-Ukrainian conflict may have spilled over into Pope Francis’ funeral as the French leader appeared to snub Donald Trump.
Prior to the mass to honor the pope’s life and work, President Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss a peace deal with Russia.
Before their pow-wow, French President Emmanuel Macron stopped by to say hello to Zelensky, grabbing his hand tightly as they exchanged some words.
Trump appeared to reach out to touch Macron’s arm before moving it in between the pair as they spoke for what many believed was going to be a handshake.
Only the Frenchman never fully returned the gesture as the pair locked into a terse conversation.
The video does show Macron’s hands hovering near Trump’s forearm as if he overshot the handshake and pulled back, bringing his other hand up to US leader’s elbow. However, the two never locked hands.
Despite what appears to be an awkward moment between the two, many have come to believe the European leader had purposely avoided greeting Trump with the same fondness and professionalism as Zelensky.
However, Macron and Trump were seen grasping hands during the sign of peace at Francis’ mass after Melania allegedly told her husband to partake in the Catholic tradition.
Before Donald Trump’s meeting with Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron stopped by to say hello to Zelensky, grabbing his hand tightly as they exchanged some words. He did not shake Trump’s hand, which many took as a snub
It appears Macron attempted to grab Trump’s hand, but overshot, as his hand was send cupped under Trump’s arm
Macron and Trump had have a contentious relationship as of late due to their differing opinions on how to handle the foreign conflict and how much money the US and Europe have put toward aiding Ukraine.
The pair held a joint press conference at the White House in February to discuss the Ukraine peace deal.
Macron was adamant that Trump should be wary of bending to Vladimir Putin’s wishes and to set his American counterpart straight on the amount of aid Europe had sent to Ukraine.
Their bromance was once the talk of Washington. Photographs of them holding hands and grinning in the White House Rose Garden accompanied every story about US-French relations.
However, that has since soured over the Ukraine conflict.
Also, in February, Trump hosted Zelensky at the White House for a disastrous meeting that saw US Vice President JD Vance unloading on the Ukrainian leader for his apparent apathy to the hand that fed him.
This led to world leaders – including Macron and then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – throwing their support behind Zelensky, who replied ‘thank you for your support’ to every X post.
But it appears Zelensky and Trump have patched up their differences as the Ukrainian took to social media after the Vatican get-together to call it a ‘good meeting.’
They did properly shake hands during the mass service at the funeral, where they were seated nearby each other
Macron and Trump (pictured at the funeral) had have a contentious relationship as of late due to their differing opinions on how to handle the foreign conflict and how much money the US and Europe have put toward aiding Ukraine
‘We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered,’ he wrote. ‘Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you, POTUS.’
The US and France both had joint mess-ups at the pope’s funeral on Saturday as Trump wore a blue suit, Biden wore a blue tie, and Macron’s wife Brigitte Macron forewent a head covering.
While men attending the funeral were asked to wear a dark suit with a long black tie and white shirt, women were given the option of either wearing a modest black dress that reaches below the knee or a formal suit.
As per the dress code for a papal funeral, women must also wear a black headscarf, head covering, or veil – as seen on Melania Trump, Spain’s Queen Letizia, former US First Lady Jill Biden, as well as Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway.
Brigitte, however, opted not to cover her head, with France’s first lady styling her blonde hair in an almost impossibly voluminous bouffant that skimmed her shoulders.
Similarly, the wife of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Olena Zelenska, as well as Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni – who wore a black pantsuit – also decided against wearing black veils for the service held in St Peter’s this morning.
For the somber occasion, Brigitte opted to wear a double-breasted blazer and a long, pleated skirt that hit below her calves, both black, as well as a matching turtleneck.
