A professional lip reader has reportedly uncovered a private moment between Donald Trump and Melania during Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican City on Friday, April 26. The U.S. President and First Lady were among the thousands of mourners gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects to the late pope, who passed away on Easter Monday at 88. The service also saw world leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in attendance.
Before the ceremony, Trump and Zelenskyy had a brief, informal conversation—the first time the two had met since their intense exchange at the White House in February. As the funeral began, Trump caught the eye of the crowd, standing out in a striking blue suit, while Melania, a devout Roman Catholic, wore a traditional black blazer and pencil skirt, topped with a dark lace veil.
Although early reports suggested the Trumps would sit toward the back, live TV footage showed them positioned front and center among the dignitaries. During the service, cameras captured a quiet exchange between the couple as the congregation stood midway through the two-hour event. Nicola Hickling, a forensic lip reader from Lip Reader Limited, told The Express she had decoded Trump’s words: “I’ll go over and speak to him.”
It remains unclear exactly who Donald Trump was referring to in his quiet exchange with Melania, but forensic lip reader Nicola Hickling observed that Melania responded with a subtle “side-eye” glance, without offering any verbal reply.
Trump, who was raised Presbyterian but later identified as a non-denominational Christian, has long sought to connect with Catholic voters. Speaking to Fox News about his attendance at the funeral, he remarked: “I just thought it was out of respect. I won the Catholic vote—by a lot—and I think that’s the first time a Republican ever did. I have a great relationship with Catholics. Very simple.”
He continued, “We did well with the Catholic vote—I got 56%—and honestly, I don’t know how they got any of the rest.”
Melania’s Catholic faith has been an integral part of her public persona; she became the first Catholic First Lady to reside in the White House since Jacqueline Kennedy. In 2017, after meeting Pope Francis during an official visit to the Vatican, Melania described the encounter as unforgettable, even bringing rosary beads to be blessed by the pontiff.
Reflecting on the moment in a post on X (formerly Twitter), she shared: “Today’s visit with His Holiness Pope Francis @Pontifex is one I’ll never forget. I was humbled by the honor. Blessings to all.”
