Trump's Unexpected Voyage: A Diplomatic Dance in Rome
Trump travels to Italy for the Pope's funeral ceremony
MOVE OVER, WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is journeying to the Eternal City of Rome this weekend for none other than Pope Francis's funeral service. And as if that wasn't enough, he'll be rubbing shoulders with a plethora of world leaders, including Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.
The relationship between Trump and the late pontiff wasn't exactly kumbaya, with the Pope never shying away from criticizing Trump's signature policy on immigration. Yet, even with their disagreements, Trump is bound to be in the midst of a major diplomatic assembly, with over 50 heads of state gracing the event, including monarchs and ceasars of the modern world.
Among the attendees, Zelenskyy, for this will be their first in-person rendezvous since that disastrous White House tête-à-tête in February. Let's just say things didn't go swimmingly as Trump and sidekick JD Vance lambasted the Ukrainian leader for his perceived ingratitude in the face of billions in US military aid.
Since then, tensions have simmered down a touch, with Ukraine agreeing to a US-led proposal for a one-month unconditional ceasefire - plopping the responsibility squarely on Russia, which has yet to accept the deal. Yep, you guessed it - Moscow struck again, carrying out its deadliest attack in nearly a year just the other day in Kyiv.
Trump'sconstantcall for Russia to desist from its rampage hasn't deterred him from re-accusing Zelenskyy,among many other rebukes; even before the funeral service, Trumpa shared with Time mag that "Crimea will stay with Russia. And Zelenskyy knows that."
The Return of the King (...or was it Biden?)
Not a peep's been whispered about any stand-up encounters in Rome for Trump, who won't even be snoozing in the City of Rome overnight. But tensions could boil over between the President and some other leaders with whom he doesn't exactly see eye-to-eye - namely, former President Joe Biden.
Biden counts Francis as a cherished friend and practiced Catholic - and, shocker, won't be taking Donald's private jet, the Air Force One, for the funeral (at least, not according to the Office).
Trump's been bruising Biden's ego relentlessly in his nearly 100 days back in office, with Biden firing back against Trump's policies. This frosty friendship could make for an awkward encounter, to say the least.
Funerals tend to be a sentimental affair, but it looks like this one's got all the makings of an epic political drama.
President George W. Bush flew his two predecessors, Bill Clinton and his dad, on Air Force One for Pope John Paul II's service in 2005, making us wonder if Trump could extend an olive branch to Biden during the funeral. But only time will tell.
Before Trump even set foot in Rome, he made headlines by imposing tariffs on European allies, but for now, he's taken a breather from the most severe measures.
French President Emmanuel Macron, a leader who's somehow managed to forge a bond with Trump, and outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will both attend, as well as top EU execs, Ursula von der Leyen, and Antonio Costa.
Also present will be the newly-elected Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a leftist who defeated Trump's ideological soulmate, Jair Bolsonaro. While Lula has spoken out against Trump, he's kept the peace since the latter returned to office.
Trump's far-right brethren won't be absent from the party either, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and President Javier Milei of Argentina, the late Pope's homeland, rounding out the roster.
Flash back to Trump's inauguration, and you'll find him visiting France for the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral, where then-President Macron played matchmaker between Trump and Zelenskyy.
Trump's initial foreign jaunt after his re-election was planned to be a visit to oil-rich Gulf Arab states, where he's eyeing business ventures and hoping for closer relationships with Israel. The trip has been penciled in for mid-May, including stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
With the Rome gathering on the horizon, Trump could find himself amid a plethora of leaders - some friendly, others not so much. But whatever happens, you can bet it'll make for great watercooler chat come Monday morning.
- Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's President, will be attending Pope Francis's funeral service in Rome, marking their first in-person meeting since their contentious White House conversation in February.
- The diplomatic assembly at the funeral service will include over 50 heads of state, with Zelenskyy among them, making it an opportunity for potentially delicate conversations related to war-and-conflicts, especially concerning the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
- Despite their past disagreements, President Donald Trump's policy on immigration being a major point of contention with the late pope, political leaders such as Zelenskyy may discuss policy-and-legislation and politics during this important gathering.
- The general news landscape will closely watch the interactions between Trump and former President Joe Biden, whose friendship has been tense, particularly regarding crime-and-justice and their conflicting approaches to politics.
- In addition to diplomatic discussions, there may be heated debates in the sphere of casino-and-gambling, as casino-personalities are likely to be present, considering that Trump is known for his business ventures in the industry.
- As a notable event, the funeral is also bound to influence legislation and international relations in various ways, potentially leading to a ripple effect in the broader context of world affairs.
