It was the image that launched a thousand memes.
World leaders gathered in the cool morning air of St. Peter’s Square on April 26, 2025, to bid farewell to Pope Francis. But while the world was focused on the end of an era for the Catholic Church, the internet was looking at something else. Specifically, a 78-year-old Donald Trump sitting in the front row.
People started asking: Did Trump fall asleep at the Pope's funeral?
Social media went into a full meltdown. One second, everyone is mourning a global icon; the next, "Sleepy Donald" is trending on X. Honestly, the timing couldn't have been more ironic given his favorite nickname for Joe Biden. But was he actually napping, or did a well-timed camera shutter just catch him mid-blink?
The Viral Photos and the "Sleepy Donald" Accusations
The drama started almost as soon as the service began. Trump was seated in a prime spot. Because the Vatican seats dignitaries alphabetically by country name in French—Les États-Unis—he ended up right in the thick of the action. He was flanked by Melania Trump and Estonian President Alar Karis, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just a few seats down.
Suddenly, a series of photos began circulating. In them, Trump’s head appears tilted slightly forward. His eyes are closed. To his critics, it was the "smoking gun" of disrespect.
💡 You might also like: Wisconsin Judicial Elections 2025: Why This Race Broke Every Record
Critics were ruthless. They pointed to the fact that while other leaders like Emmanuel Macron and Prince William looked alert, Trump seemed to be off in dreamland. One viral post on X claimed he wasn't just sleeping, but also texting and even taking phone calls during the liturgy.
But here’s the thing: frozen images are tricky.
A Blue Suit in a Sea of Black
Before we even get to the "sleeping" part, we have to talk about the suit. Most people didn't just notice Trump’s eyes; they noticed his clothes.
Vatican protocol for a papal funeral is pretty strict. Usually, it's dark suits and black ties for the men. Melania followed the rules perfectly, wearing a long black dress and a traditional veil. Trump? He showed up in a navy blue suit with a light blue tie.
- The Criticism: Critics called it a "disgraceful" breach of protocol.
- The Counter-Argument: Supporters argued he looked "classy" and noted that he wasn't the only one in blue. Even Joe Biden, who was also in attendance, wore a blue tie with his black suit. Prince William was also spotted in a dark blue suit.
Basically, the blue suit fueled the narrative that Trump wasn't taking the event seriously, which made the "falling asleep" claims stick even harder.
📖 Related: Casey Ramirez: The Small Town Benefactor Who Smuggled 400 Pounds of Cocaine
Fact Check: Was He Actually Napping?
So, did he actually doze off?
If you look at the raw footage rather than just the screenshots, the story gets a bit more nuanced. There were definitely moments where Trump had his eyes closed for several seconds at a time. This often happened during the long, chanted Latin prayers or the homily. For a man who isn't Catholic and was likely battling jet lag after a flight to Rome, a heavy-lidded moment isn't exactly a shocker.
However, the White House and Trump’s team haven't confirmed any "nap." Instead, they pointed to the "solemnity" of the occasion. They released their own photos on Truth Social showing Trump standing respectfully before the Pope’s coffin.
The "texting and calling" claims? Those seem a lot more dubious. Security at a papal funeral is intense. While Trump is known for his love of his phone, there's no clear video evidence showing him actively chatting on a call during the actual Mass. Most of those "photos" were grainy crops that could have been him simply looking down at a program.
The Zelenskyy Factor
One reason Trump might have looked exhausted was his schedule. Before the funeral even started, he had a high-stakes, one-on-one meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
👉 See also: Lake Nyos Cameroon 1986: What Really Happened During the Silent Killer’s Release
This was their first face-to-face since a very tense exchange at the White House in February 2024. They reportedly discussed the war in Ukraine and the "fate of the Black Sea peninsula." Dealing with global geopolitics at 4:00 AM ET (the time they were seated) would make anyone want to close their eyes for a second.
Why This Rumor Won't Die
The reason "did Trump fall asleep at Pope funeral" remains a massive search term isn't just about the Pope. It’s about the "Sleepy Joe" moniker.
For years, Trump used that phrase to attack Biden’s stamina. When the tables turned—or appeared to turn—his detractors jumped at the chance for some "poetic justice." It’s a classic case of political projection and the power of a single, poorly-timed photograph.
What We Know For Sure:
- Location: Trump was in the front row at St. Peter's Square.
- Attire: He definitely wore a navy blue suit, breaking traditional black-tie protocol.
- The "Sleep": Photos show his eyes closed, but there is no official confirmation he was actually asleep versus just praying or resting his eyes.
- Reception: Unlike Zelenskyy, who received a rousing standing ovation upon entry, Trump was met with mostly silence from the crowd.
Moving Beyond the Memes
If you're trying to figure out the truth, don't just trust a single screenshot on X. The reality of these high-pressure diplomatic events is that they are long, scripted, and—honestly—exhausting. Whether he was actually in a deep slumber or just reflecting, the image has become a permanent part of his 2025 legacy.
To get the full picture, you should look for the multi-angle footage of the "Sign of Peace" section of the Mass. You can see Trump actively shaking hands with Emmanuel Macron and Finland’s Alexander Stubb. He was clearly alert and engaged for the majority of the three-hour ceremony, even if he had a few "quiet moments" during the prayers.
Check out the official Vatican Media archives if you want to see the full, unedited broadcast. It’s the only way to see past the political spin from both sides and decide for yourself if it was a nap or just a long day in Rome.
Next Steps for You: If you're interested in the protocols of these events, you can look up the "Order of Precedence" for the Vatican to see why certain leaders are seated where they are. You might also want to compare this incident to the 2021 footage of Joe Biden at the COP26 summit, which served as the original inspiration for many of the "sleeping" memes currently targeting Trump.