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First lady Melania Trump encouraged the President to start shaking hands with other world leaders during Pope Francis’ funeral Saturday.
At one point during the three-hour Catholic mass, attendees were invited to share the “sign of peace” by shaking hands with one another.
“Donald, look left,” Melania whispered, according to forensic lip reader Jeremy Freeman.
Following the first lady’s lead, Trump turned to Estonian President Alar Karis and Spain’s King Felipe VI, saying, “Great to see you, great to see you,” while shaking their hands, Freeman said.
Turning to his right, Trump then shakes hands with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, before going in for a prolonged, firm handshake with French President Emmanuel Macron, video showed.
Trump and Macron didn’t speak during the handshake, which has become an infamous ritual among the powerful pair.
Instead, Trump appears to return his gaze to Stubb — even before finishing the handshake with Macron, according to footage of the encounter.
“Great to see you, Alex, good to see you. How are you doing?” Trump asked Stubb, according to Freeman.
Trump also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky inside St. Peter’s Basilica for a nearly 15-minute-long conversation ahead of the funeral, the first meeting between the two since an explosive Oval Office clash nearly two months ago.
Images of the Saturday exchange quickly went viral, with the White House calling the meeting “very productive,” and Zelensky reiterating the sentiment on X, saying it was a “good meeting.”
The Trumps had a front-row seat to the services at Saint Pete’s Square, despite prior speculation that Vatican protocol would have them behind powerful archbishops, bishops, cardinals and reigning monarchs.
Trump wore a navy suit and tie, while Melania wore a black lace ensemble.
At another point during the services, Trump sweetly asked Melania, “You okay?” to which she gives a small nod, Freeman said.
“It was a good discussion,” the President then told his wife, although it’s unclear which discussion he was referring to.
“Good,” she replied.
“It’s time,” Trump then said, to which Melania responded, “Yes, I agree.”
Freeman, who is based in London, was born deaf and for 16 years has served as a University College London-certified expert witness for litigants, the police and journalists.
More than 250,000 mourners, as well as foreign delegations from a total of 164 countries, gathered to pay their respects to the Argentinian pontiff, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 in his residence at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
English (US)