Will Trump Take a Back Seat at the Pope’s Funeral—Literally?
Despite being one of the first to confirm his attendance, Donald Trump is expected to be placed in a third-tier seat at Pope Francis’ funeral mass—an arrangement that may not sit well with the former president. Known for commanding the spotlight at global events, Trump will likely find himself far from center stage when he arrives at St. Peter’s Basilica tomorrow morning.
The Vatican is putting the final touches on preparations, but the official seating chart remains under wraps. According to The Telegraph, long-standing tradition dictates that Catholic royalty will be given pride of place in the front row. Non-Catholic royals, including Prince William, are expected to follow, with heads of state and other dignitaries—including Trump—seated further back, likely in large blocks across from senior clergy.
Around 50 world leaders and 10 reigning monarchs will be in attendance, creating a diplomatic balancing act for organizers. But if tradition holds, Trump may find himself behind both royalty and active leaders—a far cry from the VIP placement he typically expects.
What adds irony to the situation is Trump’s previous jab at Joe Biden for his back-row seat at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022. At the time, Trump declared Biden’s placement showed “no respect” for the U.S. and insisted that he, as president, would have secured a spot up front.
Trump didn’t attend the Queen’s funeral—invites were limited to current heads of state. But now, with no such restriction, his own seating position may prove a bitter pill to swallow. The question remains: will he see this as a ceremonial formality—or a deliberate slight?