Diplomatic tension: Macron avoids shaking Trump's hand at Pope's funeral
During Pope Francis' funeral at the Vatican, Emmanuel Macron avoided shaking hands with Donald Trump, in a gesture interpreted as support for Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelensky.
A gesture laden with symbolism marked the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica. During the solemn ceremony, French President Emmanuel Macron refused to shake the hand of former US President Donald Trump, creating a tense moment that was not missed by the international press.
The incident occurred during formal condolences. As Trump extended his hand to shake, Macron chose to make a slight nod, without physical contact. Macron later approached Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky directly, with whom he exchanged a warm handshake and a few words, reaffirming his solidarity amid the conflict with Russia.
Analysts interpret Macron's attitude as a clear sign of support for Ukraine and distancing himself from political figures who have been critical of military and economic aid to Kyiv.
The situation highlights the diplomatic fractures that remain latent in the international community, even in settings of remembrance such as a papal funeral. Meanwhile, cameras captured Trump's restrained reaction, as he continued with the ceremony without major public disturbances.
This episode reinforces Macron's image as a European leader aligned with the bloc that firmly supports the Ukrainian cause, and underscores the political tensions that persist on the global stage.
President Macron refused to shake Trump's little hand at the Pope's funeral. Showed solidarity with Ukraine and President Zelenskyy.#Ukraine #Macron #DonaldTrump #PopeFrancis pic.twitter.com/92Dj8biYBU — K13 News (@K13News) April 27, 2025
video by X.com/k13news
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