Vatican City prepares for Pope Francis’ funeral on April 26, 2025, a solemn moment of global unity. Yet, U.S. controversies threaten to dominate: President Donald Trump’s claim of trade deals with “200 countries,” fears he’ll disrupt the ceremony, calls to arrest Justice Clarence Thomas, the deportation of a 2-year-old U.S. citizen, Pete Buttigieg’s 2028 buzz, California’s $83 billion federal tax surplus versus Texas’ $89 billion aid, and Volkswagen overtaking Tesla in European EV sales. Now, X posts defending federal judges against arrest for “following the rule of law” add fuel to the judicial debate. Can this sacred farewell prevail over chaos?
A Global Farewell to Pope Francis
Pope Francis, who died at 88 on Easter Monday from a stroke and heart failure, transformed the Catholic Church with humility and social justice. His funeral, set for 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, will draw 250,000 mourners and 130 world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Argentina’s Javier Milei. Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell will lead a modest ceremony under a security lockdown with 6,000 personnel. Trump’s attendance, with Vice President JD Vance, sparks concern due to his 2016 clash with Francis over border walls and X posts fearing he’ll “embarrass” the U.S.
Trump’s Trade Deal Blunder
On April 25, 2025, Trump claimed in a Time Magazine interview to be negotiating trade deals with “200 countries,” despite only 195 existing. X users mocked the error, noting talks with 70 nations but no finalized deals. Experts call 90 deals in 90 days unfeasible, suggesting Trump exaggerated, damaging his credibility.
Clarence Thomas Ethics Crisis
X posts demand Justice Clarence Thomas’ arrest after a 2024 Senate probe revealed $4.75 million in undisclosed gifts from billionaire Harlan Crow since 1991. Critics cite perjury and failure to recuse in donor-linked cases. The Judicial Conference declined a Justice Department referral in January 2025, but X users call Thomas “corrupt.” Conversely, a post claiming, “I’m so woke, I’m against arresting federal judges for following the rule of law,” defends judges, likely referencing Thomas’ allies who argue his disclosures comply with updated guidelines, though critics counter his omissions violated ethics laws.
Deportation of a U.S. Citizen Child
On April 25, 2025, Judge Terry A. Doughty flagged the Trump administration’s deportation of a 2-year-old U.S. citizen to Honduras with “no meaningful process.” Detained by ICE with her Honduran-born mother, the child was removed despite a U.S. birth certificate. X posts condemned the act, though some claimed the mother’s choice. The case exposes flaws in Trump’s immigration push, deporting 1,200–1,500 daily.
Buttigieg’s 2028 Momentum
X users praise Pete Buttigieg for dominating right-wing platforms with facts, contrasting with Gavin Newsom’s criticized podcast for weak pushback. X debates Buttigieg’s electability as a gay candidate, noting America’s shift from electing controversial figures like Trump, found liable for sexual abuse in 2023. X dismisses ineligible 2028 Trump or Obama runs, with Buttigieg gaining traction.
California vs. Texas: Federal Funding Divide
X posts cite a 2022 Rockefeller Institute report: California paid $83 billion more in federal taxes than it received, while Texas got $89 billion more than it paid. California’s high earners drove $692 billion in taxes versus $566 billion in non-COVID aid, making it a donor state. Texas benefits from healthcare and infrastructure aid, exposing political ironies in “hellscape” versus “freedom” narratives.
Volkswagen Overtakes Tesla in Europe
Volkswagen led Q1 2025 European EV sales with 65,679 battery EVs, up 157%, versus Tesla’s 53,237, down 38%, per JATO Dynamics. X posts tie Tesla’s slide to CEO Elon Musk’s far-right ties, stating, “When you go fash you lose all your cash.” Analysts cite Musk’s controversies, Model Y changeovers, and competition from Volkswagen and BYD.
What to Watch
The funeral will honor Francis’ legacy, with a conclave looming. Trump’s potential disruptions, trade claim fallout, Thomas’ scandal, the deportation case, Buttigieg’s rise, the California-Texas divide, and Tesla’s EV stumble could escalate. The judicial debate, pitting ethics against “rule of law” defenses, may intensify.
Why It Matters
The funeral is a global milestone for the Catholic Church and diplomacy. Trump’s errors, Thomas’ ethics crisis, the child’s deportation, Buttigieg’s 2028 prospects, state funding gaps, Tesla’s market loss, and judicial controversies reflect deep tensions, risking the overshadowing of Francis’ farewell. Will unity prevail, or will chaos dominate?
