Donald Trump was initially expected to be seated in a ‘third-tier’ spot at Pope Francis’ funeral, but he ultimately ended up in the front row.
The Vatican had not released an official seating plan, though reports suggested Catholic royals and heads of state would take priority.
Given the order was based on countries’ names in French, Trump was predicted to be seated between Estonia and Finland. The arrangement also considered diplomatic sensitivities and political rivalries.
Despite his earlier criticism of seating at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, Trump secured a prime position. However, he faced backlash for his choice of a blue suit instead of the traditional black mourning attire.
Critics online called him disrespectful and tone-deaf, accusing him of embarrassing the U.S. during a solemn international event.
