Trump to attend Pope Francis funeral in Rome amid tensions with Zelensky

Trump’s first foreign trip in second term includes high-stakes diplomatic gathering with world leaders.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media alongside First Lady Melania Trump as they depart the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2025. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

U.S. President Donald Trump embarked on his first international visit of his second term on Friday, arriving in Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis. The journey marks a surprising yet diplomatically significant moment in his renewed presidency, placing Trump in the global spotlight alongside nearly 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs.

The Trump to attend Pope Francis funeral development has garnered widespread attention, not only due to the late pontiff’s global stature but also because of the powerful mix of political personalities converging on the Eternal City. Among them is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with whom Trump has had a strained relationship, particularly following their last meeting at the White House in February.

The funeral presents an unmissable opportunity for global diplomacy — or potential confrontation — in a setting typically reserved for solemnity and reflection.

A complex relationship with the Vatican

Though attending Pope Francis’s funeral, Trump shared little warmth with the late pontiff during his first term. Their relationship was distant and often strained, especially after Francis publicly condemned Trump’s immigration policies and mass deportation initiatives. Despite this tension, Trump has opted not to miss the Vatican service, possibly recognizing its political weight and symbolic global importance.

The Trump to attend Pope Francis funeral narrative also reopens past diplomatic rifts. During his presidency, Trump often took a combative stance against religious institutions that criticized his policies. Yet, in death, Francis commands respect as a global figure, prompting even ideological opponents like Trump to pay their respects.

Zelensky encounter looms amid fragile ceasefire

Perhaps the most closely watched aspect of Trump’s visit to Rome is his potential encounter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This marks the first time the two leaders will be in the same room since the February 28 White House meeting, which spiraled into controversy.

During that encounter, Trump and Vice President JD Vance lambasted Zelensky, accusing him of showing ingratitude for the billions in U.S. military assistance following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Since then, tensions have fluctuated. Ukraine agreed to a U.S.-brokered one-month unconditional ceasefire, although Russia has yet to comply. Instead, it escalated military operations, launching a devastating airstrike on Kyiv just days before the funeral, its deadliest in nearly a year.

In an interview published Friday in Time magazine, Trump again cast blame on Zelensky, reaffirming his stance that Ukraine must cede Crimea to Russia.

“Crimea will stay with Russia. And Zelensky understands that,” Trump told the publication, reinforcing his hardline position.

Quiet schedule, but not without political weight

Though no official bilateral meetings have been announced for Trump's brief half-day visit, his presence at the funeral brings unavoidable political resonance. Former President Joe Biden — a devout Catholic and close friend of the late pope — is also attending, albeit separately.

Breaking protocol, Biden will not travel on Air Force One with Trump, marking a deviation from the precedent set in 2005 when President George W. Bush invited former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush to accompany him to Pope John Paul II's funeral.

Trump’s appearance in Rome may be brief, but the optics of standing alongside Biden and other leaders will not go unnoticed, especially considering Trump’s aggressive dismantling of Biden’s legacy during his first 100 days back in office.

European tensions remain unresolved

Trump’s second term has already ruffled feathers among U.S. allies, especially in Europe. His announcement of sweeping tariffs drew sharp rebukes from European Union leaders. Although he has temporarily backed off the harshest measures, unease lingers.

In Rome, Trump will cross paths with French President Emmanuel Macron and outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz — both of whom have had complicated relationships with the U.S. leader. Macron has managed to maintain a line of communication with Trump, despite numerous disagreements over defense spending and climate change. Scholz, on the other hand, has remained more reserved.

Also attending are European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, both vocal critics of Trump’s economic nationalism and foreign policy approach.

Lula and Milei join the gathering

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will also be present. Although Lula and Trump share little ideologically — Lula being a longtime figure of the Latin American left — he has kept a cautious distance since Trump’s return to the White House.

Meanwhile, the funeral also draws Trump-aligned figures such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Argentine President Javier Milei. The latter, hailing from the late pope’s home country, has become a key figure in Latin America’s conservative shift and shares Trump’s populist rhetoric.

The Middle East awaits

Trump’s stop in Rome precedes a planned tour of key Middle Eastern allies beginning May 13. He is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, countries he has described as “important partners for peace and business.”

The trip is aimed at opening investment opportunities and accelerating normalization efforts between Arab states and Israel, an initiative Trump championed during his first term.

While the Vatican funeral is not the setting where formal agreements will be signed, the Trump to attend Pope Francis funeral event may well shape diplomatic currents ahead of his upcoming visits.

A funeral that doubles as a summit

In essence, Trump’s trip to Rome — though grounded in mourning — serves as an impromptu global summit. The presence of adversaries, allies, and critics in one place creates a unique diplomatic theater.

Trump’s foreign policy has always blended unpredictability with spectacle. This event is no different. Whether he chooses to confront, reconcile, or sidestep difficult conversations, his presence at the funeral of Pope Francis is symbolic — not only of paying respects but of signaling America’s evolving global posture under his leadership.

With Trump expected to depart Rome within hours of the funeral, attention will swiftly turn to whether his brief appearance can reset global perceptions or further entrench divisions. Either way, the world will be watching.