Staff Reports
In the latest episode of political high jinks, the scene at Pope Francis’s funeral could have easily been mistaken for a daytime drama. There was former President Donald Trump, gracing the front row as if the spotlight was meant just for him. And there, far in the back, was President Joe Biden, who was escorted by his wife and a priest. The optics were clear: Trump was front and center, while Biden faded into the background.
In typical fashion, the media seemed to have a different agenda. They appeared to work overtime to create a narrative about Donald Trump’s attire, as if the color of his suit mattered more than anything else happening. Forget that others, including royalty like Prince William, chose similar blue suits; the focus remained solely on Trump. It was as if this was the last chance to dress Trump down over fashion faux pas, ignoring entirely what others were wearing, even if some hadn’t really played by the sartorial “rules” to begin with.
The media zoomed in tightly, seeking to cast Trump as the sole villain with his blue suit amid a sea of black. Had they zoomed out, they’d have seen that this so-called “breach” was really a non-issue. Many attendees donned blue suits, and some even chose less traditional attire. Yet, the narrative stayed locked, not on the color blue dotting the crowd but strictly on Trump. It’s as if they were saying, “How dare he wear blue!” The scene was almost comical if it wasn’t so blatantly biased.
Meanwhile, others escaped the scrutiny. Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy, for instance, attended the event. The focus was so narrowly placed, one would think the blue suit was a statement rather than just another shade at a globally significant event. It’s like the story wasn’t really about the funeral at all but about holding up flimsy banners of scandal.
Amid these theatrics, one poignant moment remains largely ignored. Previously at another papal event, Biden was captured in a rather uncomfortable moment with Pope Francis. But in this case, the media turned a blind eye. There was more chatter about Trump’s fashion sense than about Biden’s awkward gestures. In the land of media narratives, it seems blue suits outshine blue behavior.
