Jill Biden draws flak for icy behavior at Pope Francis' funeral as Joe smiles and poses for selfies

WASHINGTON, DC: Looks like former first lady Jill Biden is fully embracing her "no time for anyone" era.

Since she and Joe Biden left the White House, Jill has been steadily shedding her usual warm-and-fuzzy persona, and she's not trying to hide it anymore, according to Nicki Swift.

Even while attending Pope Francis' funeral in Vatican City on April 26, Jill made it clear that she was there on her own terms. While Joe was out there smiling, snapping selfies, and socializing, Jill stayed firmly planted in her seat and barely engaged, as seen in a viral clip posted to X (formerly Twitter).

The spectacle screamed total detachment. The former first lady wasn’t about to force a fake moment for the cameras or anyone else. She seemed content to simply observe at what was one of the most highly publicized events in recent memory.

Jill’s growing list of personal feuds and frosty relationships seems to have only fueled her detachment as she eases into retirement.

Nicki Swift reported, "While we don't begrudge her wanting to conserve her energy and remain seated in the hot weather the day provided, it still seems overly unfriendly to not want to engage or smile with any fellow mourners."

Jill Biden faces flak for icy behavior at Pope Francis' funeral

Netizens were quick to notice Jill Biden's icy behavior at Pope Francis' funeral, with one writing, "She looks like she is so done."

"Oh look theres jill biden helpful as ever not givin a care about the fool her husband joe is in rome. Noone cares. Joe was the worst president who is attending the worst pope s funeral. How fitting irrelevant jill joe and francis. Three peas in a rotten pod," another commented. 

A person expressed, "Yeah, Biden thought he was there for the funeral of Pope John Paul II and Dr. Jill was there for a Rome shopping trip." "Jill Biden took Joe to Pope Fancis funeral cause she thought there was a two for one special," another quipped.

"The Italians can keep the pair," another tweet read. 

Jill Biden's icy demeanor has been on full display

This isn’t new behavior for Jill Biden. Funerals and major events appear to have become her favorite places to make a statement — and not always the ones you’d expect.

Take former president Jimmy Carter’s state funeral, for example. Jill didn’t waste the opportunity to quietly stoke the icy war between her and Kamala Harris — a feud that dates back to the former vice president accusing Joe of supporting segregationist policies during the 2020 primaries. 

Jill even took a page out of Harris' own failed presidential campaign, reworking one of her slogans about "joy" into her own messaging.

In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), Jill could be heard saying, "So I hope that you all feel that sense of, you know peace and light, and that just for a moment when you leave here today, I don't know..." She then paused, before concluding, "A sense of joy... You know we all need to feel joy now, during this time of the season..."

That said, Jill has also been rather icy toward Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff.

Nicki Swift summed it up best: "Though the signs she sends are more subtle than most, it's clear Jill isn't fully ready to let go of her feuds — even if she appears to be over everything else in her life, like offering casual niceties at a funeral."

About fashion statements

While Jill Biden sat stony-faced at Pope Francis’ funeral, she was also quietly serving a killer rewear moment.

As noted by Women's Wear Daily, Jill turned heads in her bespoke Schiaparelli blazer and skirt set — the same outfit she rocked at Carter’s funeral back in January and Queen Elizabeth II’s farewell in 2022. The sleek black jacket featured dazzling flower-shaped buttons made of gold frames, pearls, and sparkling crystals.

Floral motifs have always carried heavy symbolism, and Jill’s bijoux buttons incorporated it into her look. She completed the ensemble with a traditional mantilla, Marion Parke pumps, and sunglasses.

Meanwhile, Joe kept it classic with a black suit, a blue tie, and his signature Ray-Ban sunglasses. As a practicing Catholic, Joe has a longstanding relationship with Pope Francis. He first met him in 2015 during the Barack Obama administration, and again in 2021, when he was president, to discuss topics like climate change and Covid-19.

That said, Jill wasn’t the only one opting for a mantilla — first lady Melania Trump rocked one too, pairing hers with a sharp double-breasted Dolce & Gabbana coat.

The funeral was packed with A-listers from around the globe. Among the estimated 250,000 guests were Prince William, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan, and French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, just to name a few. 

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