A lip reader has now claimed to reveal what Donald Trump's pointed seven-word comment to Melania Trump was during the pope's funeral.

Lip reader revealed Trump’s 7-word whisper to Melania. Credit: Dan Kitwood / Getty

The funeral proceedings for the late Pope began earlier today (April 26) in Vatican City -- five days after his passing on April 21.

Tens of thousands of mourners filled St. Peter’s Square to pay tribute, as well as global figures and leaders such as President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Prince William.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also attended and was welcomed with a round of applause from the gathered crowd.

During the solemn two-hour ceremony, the 78-year-old US president was seen whispering a seven-word message to his wife, Melania.

According to lip reader Nicola Hickling, speaking on behalf of Oddspedia to The Express, Trump leaned toward the First Lady and said: "I'll go over and speak to him."

Melania’s response? While Hickling claimed that Melania offered Trump a "side-eye", videos emerging on social media shows the FLOTUS then smiling at her husband.

Hickling then told the Express that she believes Melania turned to the POTUS to say: "You should go do it."

"Oh, alright," was Trump's alleged reply.

While Trump did not clarify who he intended to approach, speculation centered on President Zelenskyy, who was seated several places away.

Their history of tension dates back to an Oval Office confrontation earlier this year, where the US leader accused the Ukrainian president of "gambling with World War Three."

Trump and Zelensky were involved in a heated debate in the Oval Office earlier this year. Credit: Andrew Harnik / Getty

However - despite tensions reaching boiling point between the two leaders over a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia - before the funeral began, Trump and Zelenskyy held a brief but highly significant 15-minute meeting.

Ukrainian presidential spokesman Serhiy Nykyforov confirmed the encounter, saying: "The leaders agreed to continue their discussions today. Teams are working on organising the continuation of the meeting," per France24.

White House communications director Steven Cheung described the initial talk as "a very productive discussion".

The Ukrainian presidency later released powerful images showing Trump and Zelenskyy sitting face-to-face, as well as speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Trump and Zelenskyy had a meeting before the funeral. Credit: Handout / Getty

Behind the diplomatic courtesies, tensions between the two leaders remain. Their meeting comes after friction over Trump’s proposed peace plan for Ukraine, crafted with the input of Trump’s envoy, General Keith Kellogg.

The plan would see Ukraine cede Crimea and significant portions of Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhia to Russia, while maintaining access to the Dnipro River and placing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant under U.S. administration.

Zelenskyy has flatly rejected the plan, describing it as a breach of Ukraine’s sovereignty. "There is nothing to talk about. This violates our Constitution," he said, per Al Jazeera. "This is our territory - the territory of the people of Ukraine."

He warned that negotiating on territorial concessions would only benefit Moscow: "As soon as talks about Crimea and our sovereign territories begin, the talks enter the format that Russia wants - prolonging the war - because it will not be possible to agree on everything quickly.”

Nevertheless, Trump continues to push for a resolution. Posting on Truth Social, he said, "They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to 'finish it off,'" per Sky News. "Most of the major points are agreed to. Stop the bloodshed, NOW."

Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for three hours, discussing the "possibility" of direct Ukraine-Russia negotiations. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov described the talks as "constructive and very useful," per CNN.

Before heading to Rome, the Ukrainian president had expressed a willingness for dialogue but insisted that any negotiations must follow a full and unconditional ceasefire.

"We are ready for dialogue, I emphasize again, in any format with anyone," Zeheenskyy said, "[But] only after a real signal that Russia is ready to end the war."

However, Zelenskyy also acknowledged that Ukraine’s accession to NATO would not happen in the immediate future, calling for pragmatic security guarantees instead.

"For us, the backstop does not necessarily have to be boots on the ground in Ukraine," he explained, suggesting it could involve cyber defense measures and additional Patriot air defense systems.

Featured image credit: Dan Kitwood / Getty

A forensic lip reader has revealed what Trump allegedly told Melania about his 15-minute meeting with Zelensky before Pope Francis' funeral.

The funeral of Pope Francis drew more than 250,000 mourners and delegations from 164 countries to St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Saturday, April 26.

Global figures, including President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Prince William, were among those paying tribute to the Argentinian pontiff, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.

During the three-hour Catholic mass, a moment of the "sign of peace" invited attendees to shake hands with one another.

According to the New York Post, forensic lip reader Jeremy Freeman revealed that First Lady Melania Trump quietly encouraged the President to participate, whispering, “Donald, look left".

Following her prompt, Trump shook hands with Estonian President Alar Karis and Spain’s King Felipe VI, greeting them with, “Great to see you, great to see you,” before moving on to shake hands with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

The 78-year-old then engaged in a prolonged, firm handshake with French President Emmanuel Macron, although the two did not exchange words during the handshake.

Freeman noted that Trump appeared to turn back toward Stubb even before the handshake with Macron ended, warmly saying, “Great to see you, Alex, good to see you. How are you doing?”

During the service, Trump also shared a tender exchange with Melania. According to the forensic lip reader, the president leaned in to ask, “You okay?”

The First Lady gave a small nod, after which Trump said: “It was a good discussion.” Melania replied, “Good.” Trump then added, “It’s time,” and Melania responded, “Yes, I agree.”

It is believed the "good discussion" Trump was referring to is the 15-minute conversation he had with President Zelenskyy prior to the funeral procession.

Ahead of the funeral, the pair had indeed met inside St. Peter’s Basilica for a nearly 15-minute conversation, their first meeting since a heated Oval Office confrontation earlier this year.

Images of the meeting quickly went viral, with the White House describing the conversation as a “very productive discussion” and Zelensky echoing the sentiment on X, calling it a “good meeting.”

Ukrainian presidential spokesman Serhiy Nykyforov confirmed the encounter, telling France24: "The leaders agreed to continue their discussions today. Teams are working on organising the continuation of the meeting."

The meeting followed months of tension between the two leaders.

Trump had previously proposed a controversial Ukraine-Russia peace plan involving the cession of Crimea and parts of Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhia to Russia. Zelensky firmly rejected the plan, stating, “There is nothing to talk about. This violates our Constitution. This is our territory - the territory of the people of Ukraine.”

Despite the friction, Trump has continued pushing for negotiations.

However, following Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday, Trump took to Truth Social to share a startling admission, writing: "There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days," - referring to Russia's deadly assault on Kyiv last week.

Trump then added: "It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions?' Too many people are dying!!!"

Featured image credit: Dan Kitwood / Getty

Many people were quick to notice that Vice President JD Vance was evacuated first after shooting erupted at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Trump was quick to explain that he allegedly personally resisted Secret Service agents’ initial efforts to help him escape the ballroom, allowing Vance to be taken to safety first.

Footage from the scene in Washington D.C. on Saturday night showed security personnel storming the stage to save Trump, his wife, Melania and other top administration officials, including the vice president.

JD Vance was escorted from the scene before Trump. Credit: Jamie McCarthy / Getty

What did they say as they were escorted away?

A forensic lipreader has since revealed the panicked four words Vance let out as Secret Service personnel grabbed him out of his seat as the shots were fired.

Lipreader Nicola Hickling revealed that a bodyguard reportedly shouted “Run, f***ing run” at Vance.

The vice president simply responded with confusion: “What’s happening? I’m going”, before clumsily exiting the stage in a rush.

Officials have since revealed that the alleged attacker, who was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives, has been identified as Cole Thomas Allen, 31.

Another guest who was spotted being escorted out of harm’s way was Erika Kirk, the wife of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on a college campus in September last year.

As she left the venue in tears, she reportedly said to a bodyguard: “I just wanna go home”.

Trump was quick to share a pic of the suspect being arrested after the attack. Credit: Anadolu / Getty

How did the First Lady react to bullets being fired?

During a press conference in the West Wing after the shooting, Trump revealed how his wife, Melania, reacted to the attack, saying: “It’s always shocking when something like this happens.

“The fact that we were sitting next to each other, the First Lady on my right, and I heard a noise,” which the couple thought was "either a tray or a bullet".

“I heard a noise and kinda thought it was a tray going down.”

He claimed Melania instantly recognised the sound as a “bad noise,” adding that “it was a rather traumatic experience for her.”

“Melania was very cognizant,” Trump added.

The president also confirmed that one person was hit by a bullet but came out unscathed, saying: “One officer was shot, but saved by the fact that he was wearing an – obviously – a very good bulletproof vest. He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job.”

Featured image credit: Credit: Nathan Howard / Getty Images

A hug shared between Erika Kirk and JD Vance during a public event ignited widespread discussion, particularly about the nature of their embrace.

The incident occurred on October 29, 2025, at the University of Mississippi, where Erika Kirk took on the role of CEO of Turning Point USA following the tragic assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk. This transition marked a significant moment in her life, as she stepped into a position once held by her late husband, a prominent right-wing activist.

The embrace between Erika and the Vice President, JD Vance, became the focus of a heated debate after it was widely shared online. The moment drew attention due to its extended duration and the seemingly intimate nature of the interaction.

Some critics were quick to point out Vance's hand placement on Erika's hips, while others noted that she appeared to run her fingers through his hair. These observations sparked accusations of inappropriate behavior, but a lip reader’s interpretation of the moment has shed new light on the situation.

What the lip reader revealed

According to Nicola Hickling, a lip reader who reviewed footage of the moment, the exchange between Erika and JD Vance was rooted in emotional support rather than any inappropriate gesture. Hickling reported that prior to stepping onto the stage, Erika was overheard telling her assistant (per The Mirror US): "I can’t do this, I don’t want to do it. Give me a second."

After a brief pause, Erika composed herself and proceeded with her speech. When it was time to welcome Vance, the two shared a heartfelt embrace.

The lip reader also noted that Vance said to Erika: "I'm proud of you," to which she responded: "It’s not gonna bring him back."

Erika Kirk speaks out following the controversy

In the aftermath of the viral hug, Erika Kirk chose to address the media's intense scrutiny. During an interview with Fox News, she expressed her frustration over the constant media attention on her personal life.

"There have been cameras all over my husband when he was murdered," she remarked, "There have been cameras all over my friends and family mourning. There have been cameras all over me, analysing my every move, analysing my every smile, my every tear."

Despite the controversy surrounding her interaction with Vance, Erika made it clear that she felt entitled to privacy in the wake of such personal tragedy.

The public's reaction to the hug continues to fuel discussions about the boundaries of grief and the scrutiny placed on public figures, especially in moments of deep emotional vulnerability.

Featured image credit: Brad Vest / Getty

In a speech at White House Rose Garden, recalling his recent assassination attempt, Donald Trump mocked his vice president, JD Vance.

Attempting to embarrass his second in command, the president described Secret Service agents hoisting him out of his chair to safety while Trump remained seated.

Thanking the Secret Service for their support on the fateful night of April 25, Trump said, “I thought you did a great job two weeks ago. You know why? Because I’m here.”

First Lady Melania Trump and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Credit: Nathan Howard / Getty

How did Trump humiliate Vance?

Addressing the rest of the audience and trying to make Vance blush, Trump added, “They had great professional people, and they came out, and within seconds, I saw them take JD by the shoulders and lift him up like he was a little boy.”

In the aftermath of the attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington DC, a video of Vance being dragged from his chair by the shoulders by a Secret Service agent while Trump remained calmly seated went viral.

Joking about the viral footage, Trump said, "How come they didn’t lift me up so fast?" JD got ripped out of the chair; that was the view of the week.”

Continuing to mock the vice president, Trump asked guests who they preferred, Vance or his potential successor in the 2028 election, Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Casting doubt on Vance retaining his position, Trump said, “Is it gonna be JD? Is it gonna be someone else? I don't know.”

He then bellowed across the room, “Who likes JD Vance?” and “Who likes Marco Rubio?”

Following the audience’s applause for both candidates, Trump responded: “Sounds like a good ticket.”

President JD Vance is rumored to take Trump's job in 2028. Credit: Caylo Seals / Getty Images

Who does Trump want to be the next president?

While the president has explicitly declared his preferred successors are Vance and Rubio, he has not said who he would want to take his job when he departs the White House in 2028.

During his speech, Trump said, “I do believe that’s a dream team, but these are minor details.

“That does not mean you have my endorsement under any circumstance. But you know... I think it sounds like presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate.”

Rubio and Vance previously worked together in the Senate, and both opposed Trump's early bid for the presidency in 2016.

In the face of rumors about their presidential plans, Vance and Rubio have denied any strong interest in running for the top seat in the Oval Office.

However, Rubio claimed in an interview last year that he would back Vance’s presidential bid, saying, “If JD Vance runs for president, he's going to be our nominee, and I'll be one of the first people to support him.”

Featured image credit: Pool / Getty Images