At the funeral of the Pope Francis recently in the Vatican, some world leaders violated a strict dress code, which caused some criticism from the public and journalists. Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump became the object of attention because of their appearance, as they did not adhere to a protocol that provided a classic dark suit with black accessories.
According to the rules, men at the funeral had to wear a dark suit, a black tie, a white shirt, as well as black shoes and coats. However, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky appeared at a ceremony without a tie, which became the subject of discussion in the media. In turn, Donald Trump wore a dark blue suit with a tie of the same color, decorated with a pin with the image of the American flag. This decision was also criticized, as other world leaders, including Joe Biden, adhered to the classic black outfit. Journalists noted that such a dress code violation caused a "disrespect" to a mourning ceremony, as most of those present chose the traditional black attire, which is a symbol of memory reverence. In particular, Melania Trump, Donald Trump's wife, wore an elegant black coat with a lace veil and gloves that met the dress code.
It is interesting that the accusations against Zelensky appeared two months after he was criticized for "disrespect" due to the lack of a costume during a visit to the US Oval Cabinet, which emphasizes how the appearance of politicians can become the subject of international discussion and draw attention to the importance of etiquette even in the most serious situations.
