What was supposed to be a solemn funeral service to bid adieu to Pope Francis and pay the final tribute to the late pontiff – on April 26 – became a grand stage of diplomacy for world leaders. Whether it was the mini summit between the US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, or the group encounter with the French President Emmanuel Macron and Britain’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer – thanks to their huddles here and there – the world witnessed a series of moments laced with political diplomacy.
And now a lip reader has shared titbits of what potentially had gone down in all those moments.
Read on to find out.
The hush-hush huddles!
Before the funeral began, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which was their first face-to-face meeting since a tense encounter at the White House in February. They were seen with Macron and Sir Keir Starmer before the ceremony started. Pictures showed Macron hugging Zelenskyy before Trump pulled him aside.
Nicola Hickling, a professional lip reader, shared what Donald Trump might have said to Emmanuel Macron. Hickling, who analyzed their exchange for The Sun, claimed that Trump might have warned Macron, saying, "You are not in the right here, I need you to do me a favor, you should not be here." Hickling also noted that Zelenskyy nodded in agreement, while a nearby vicar appeared worried by the conversation.
Hickling also looked at footage from what has been called a mini peace summit between Trump and Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy reportedly said, “I would like you to do that, but not this way.” Trump replied, "It's a very interesting strategy. You have reassurance."
A White House official told Sky News that Trump and Zelenskyy had a "very productive discussion" and planned to continue talks after the funeral. Zelenskyy later tweeted that their meeting was good, mentioning they discussed important topics like protecting lives and achieving a ceasefire. He called the meeting symbolic and stated it could lead to significant results.
Zelenskyy’s spokesperson said the meeting lasted around 15 minutes. In the past, Trump criticized Zelenskyy, saying he was "gambling with World War 3" during their last meeting, which was televised.
Conversation between the First Couple!
The lip reader also interpreted a comment Trump made to his wife, Melania, during the service. She was dressed in black, while Trump stood out in a blue suit.
Hickling claimed that Trump possibly told Melania, "I’ll go over and speak to him." It's unclear who he meant, but Melania reportedly gave him a side glance and did not respond verbally.
The different approach:
While Trump grew up as a Presbyterian, and later identified as a non-denominational Christian. Melania is the first Catholic First Lady since Jacqueline Kennedy.
In 2017, Melania Trump met Pope Francis during her husband's first term. She said she would 'never forget' that time with him. She brought rosary beads for the Pope to bless.
After visiting the Vatican, Melania posted on X, saying, "Today's visit with His Holiness Pope Francis @Pontifex is one I'll never forget. I was humbled by the honor. Blessings to all."
Donald Trump explained why he went to Pope Francis' funeral in an interview with Fox News. He said, "I just thought it was out of respect. I won the Catholic vote, which I think is the first time that ever happened for a Republican, and I won it by a lot.” He added, "I have a great relationship with Catholics, very simple. I got 56% of the Catholic vote. I don't know why we didn’t get more, actually; I don’t know how they got any. But we did well with the Catholic vote, and my relationship is very good, so I think it's appropriate to attend."
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