At Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, the world’s attention wasn’t only on the solemn ceremony — it was also on the very different receptions given to two key political figures: U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

World leaders from around the globe gathered in Rome for the funeral Mass, among them Trump, Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Prince William, who was representing King Charles III.

Yet when Trump and Zelenskyy arrived, the contrast in public response was striking.

In video footage widely circulated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Zelenskyy was welcomed with a spontaneous round of applause from the gathered crowds as he made his way toward St Peter’s Basilica. In comparison, Trump’s arrival was noticeably muted, with no similar ovation.

“While Zelensky was greeted with a spontaneous round of applause, Trump, in his blue suit at Pope Francis’s funeral, received nothing,” one viral video caption read.

Social media users quickly jumped into the conversation. “That’s a lot of applause honoring #Zelenskyy — it isn’t a mere handful,” one commenter pointed out. Another wrote: “What a lovely and honest thing to see, amidst all the heartache and shouting, that Europe values this man. Zelenskyy, a true leader.”

Observers also criticized Trump for his choice of attire, noting that he broke Vatican funeral protocol by wearing a blue suit rather than the traditional black expected for such a solemn Catholic occasion. Many described the decision as “disrespectful” to the moment and to the memory of Pope Francis.

Despite the frosty reception, Trump and Zelenskyy did reportedly meet face-to-face during their time in Rome — the first such encounter since their high-profile clash at the White House earlier this year.

According to Sky News, a source close to the discussions said the two leaders had a “very productive discussion” after both attending the funeral service.

Earlier in the week, Trump had taken to his Truth Social platform to claim that a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia was “very close.” He urged Zelenskyy to finalize an agreement, writing: “We are very close to a deal, but the man with ‘no cards to play’ should now, finally, GET IT DONE.”

Trump added: “I look forward to being able to help Ukraine, and Russia, get out of this complete and total MESS, that would have never started if I were president!”

Before traveling to Rome, Trump also reflected briefly on Pope Francis, telling MSNBC: “[He] loved the world, actually, and he was just a good man. I thought he was a fantastic kind of a guy.” However, Trump quickly pivoted to discuss his plans to meet foreign leaders during the trip, highlighting trade talks and peace negotiations. “It’s going to be very interesting. We’re going to meet with a lot of the foreign leaders — they want to meet,” he said.

He added: “Trade deals are going very well. I think Russia and Ukraine, I think they are coming along, we hope, very fragile. And Iran, I think, is going very well. We’ll see what happens.”

Meanwhile, the applause for Zelenskyy at the funeral service was interpreted by many as a sign of Europe’s enduring support for Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion. It marked yet another powerful moment for Zelenskyy, who has consistently rallied international backing for his country during the conflict.

The day’s events, both solemn and political, underlined the stark contrasts in global opinion — not just about the leaders themselves, but about the values they represent at a time of worldwide uncertainty.