Melania Trump is mourning the ‘People’s Pope’ on her 55th birthday as the First Lady of the US was comforted by her husband Donald Trump in a rare display of affecton.
On Saturday, Melania joined her the US president Donald Trump, in Vatican City for Pope Francis‘ funeral after the Argentine pontiff died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
The president and his wife of 20 years held hands as they walked towards their seats for the service in St Peter’s Square.
In keeping with the Vatican’s strict dress code for the funeral, Melania opted to wear a black blazer and modest, calf-length pencil skirt.
Guidance from the Catholic Church states women must wear black, closed-toe shoes and Melania chose a pair of simple pumps for the occasion.
She added an elegant black lace veil as well as matching gloves, and wore a simple diamond-studded cross pendant, in keeping with the strict dress code for the event.
The First Lady wore a solemn expression and remained by Mr Trump’s side, with her attendance at the funeral expected to be crucial to keeping the peace between him and his predecessor Joe Biden.
Alluding to Melania’s role at the funeral, which will also be attended by Ukrainian president Volodymy Zelensky, he told reporters in Washington: ‘She’s going to have a great birthday. She’s got a working birthday.’
Melania Trump is mourning the ‘People’s Pope’ on her 55th birthday as the First Lady of the US was comforted by her husband Donald Trump in a rare display of affecton
On Saturday, Melania joined her the US president Donald Trump (left), in Vatican City for Pope Francis ‘ funeral after the Argentine pontiff died on Easter Monday at the age of 88
Mr Biden, 82, was seated two rows behind Mr Trump, who told reporters outside Air Force One that meeting the former president in Rome was ‘not high on my list’.
He also revealed he hadn’t known that Mr Biden and wife Jill Biden would be at the basilica for the funeral.
‘Oh he is? I didn’t know,’ he told reporters on Air Force One.
When asked if he would meet with the former president, Trump replied: ‘It’s not high on my list. It’s really not.’
Mr Trump and Melania touched down in Rome last night after they shared a rare, tender moment on the eve of the First Lady’s birthday.
In an unexpected public display of affection, the president tenderly wrapped his arm around Melania’s waist as they departed the White House on Friday – before Mr Trump shared the couple’s plans for a low-key birthday dinner ‘on Air Force One‘.
‘I’ll take her for dinner on the Boeing. I’ll take her for dinner on Air Force One,’ he said, referring to the presidential aircraft.
Mr Trump also admitted he hadn’t had ‘much time to buy presents’ for his wife, ahead of what will be a rushed trip to Rome before he and Melania fly back to New Jersey after the funeral service is concluded.
Adhering to the Vatican’s strict dress code for the funeral, Melania opted to wear a black blazer and modest, calf-length pencil skirt
She added an elegant black lace veil as well as matching gloves, and wore a simple diamond-studded cross pendant, in keeping with the strict dress code for the event
Today marks another difficult birthday for the US First Lady, who turned 54 last year amid her husband’s hush money trial last May.
Trump, who was then a presidential candidate, was in New York fighting hush money charges regarding a payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had an affair with Trump. He denies the charges. He was ultimately convicted 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
He was thinking of his wife that day a year ago, when he stood outside the courthouse in New York City.
‘I want to start by wishing my wife Melania a very happy birthday. Would be nice to be with her but I’m at a courthouse for a rigged trial,’ he said.
‘Everybody knows it. Yesterday was a big day. But I do have to begin by wishing Melania happy birthday. She’s in Florida,’ he added.
This year marks Melania’s first birthday back in the White House since Mr Trump was re-elected after securing a stunning victory over rival Kamala Harris.
Melania previously described meeting the late pontiff as an experience she would ‘never forget’ in a post on X (then Twitter) in 2017.
Her statement came after Melania and Mr Trump flew to the Vatican for their first trip abroad as the United States’ president and First Lady nearly eight years ago.
‘Today’s visit with His Holiness Pope Francis @Pontifex is one I’ll never forget,’ she wrote. ‘I was humbled by the honour. Blessings to all.’
