Notably, former President Donald Trump attended the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI. His sartorial selections helped stimulate robust debate about style and propriety. Wearing a blue suit paired with a light blue tie, Trump’s outfit diverged significantly from the Vatican’s strict dress code, which typically requires men to don dark suits, black ties, and black lapel buttons during papal funerals.
The Vatican has a very strict dress code for the major events in order to maintain decorum and respect for the occasion. Style critics immediately lashed out at Trump for his bizarre blue outfit. You simply can’t get more sartorial contrast with other world leaders at the event. President Joe Biden and His Royal Highness Prince William of the United Kingdom on each side both picked dark navy suits.
Yet, Trump’s wardrobe was not the only cause of outrage during the swearing in ceremony. He allegedly hopped over the holy carpet in front of the Pope’s coffin. Instead, many people saw this sign of solidarity as disrespectful, as the site has long been known as sacred ground. Trump’s immediate departure after the ceremony was a break from the tradition. The absence during the burial that followed put an even bigger question mark about his funeral etiquette as a whole.
Though most commentators saw Trump’s choice as a major fashion misstep, not everyone was willing to condemn his choice on this front. “One guy shows up in a blue suit to the pope’s funeral. You will never guess who,” remarked Ron Filipkowski, highlighting the surprise surrounding Trump’s appearance. Conversely, Joey Mannarino stated, “Trump at the pope’s funeral is just exuding complete and total class. Absolutely the image America should be projecting to the world.”
Trump’s dress-down approach attracted all kinds of attention at such a high-profile gathering. His history of controversial conduct during funerals has often turned heads. For instance, he did not attend former First Lady Barbara Bush’s funeral in 2018 and has been known to politicize other memorials, such as at Jimmy Carter’s funeral. There, he focused on avoiding contact with most guests and complaining about flags being displayed at half-mast for his inauguration.
In fact, Melania Trump’s adherence to traditional funeral protocol, with her black dress and black mantilla, made headlines. Compared to his wife’s formal glam Zoom outfit, her husband took the opposite tack to formal attire. This contrast has led to difficult discussions on whether or not decorum matters in ceremonies.
Trump’s sartorial aesthetics, though controversial in their own right, truly require such high alert. Critics have feasted on everything from the lengths of his red power ties to the way his suits are cut. Many fans contended that the fans’ unique style shouldn’t distract from the importance of the event.
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