Just days after the world mourned the loss of Pope Francis, President Donald Trump has given the most Trump response possible when asked who he believes should be the head of the worldwide Catholic Church.
In what might be the most Trump thing Trump has ever said, the 78-year-old told reporters on Tuesday that if he had to name someone to step into the papal robes, it would be… himself.
“I’d like to be pope,” Trump declared. “That’d be my number one choice.”
It was a surreal soundbite following the funeral of the late pontiff, who passed away on Easter Monday (21 April) at the age of 88 after suffering a cerebral stroke and heart failure. Pope Francis — born Jorge Mario Bergoglio — was remembered globally as the “People’s Pope,” with UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer calling him a champion “for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten.”
Of course, Trump was only joking (...right?), but that didn't stop social media users from commenting on the fantasy.
Senator Lindsey Graham seemed surprisingly on board, posting on X: “I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope. This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility!”
He added: “The first Pope-U.S. President combination has many upsides. Watching for white smoke…. Trump MMXXVIII!”
But back to Trump.
He currently identifies as a non-denominational Christian, has been married three times, and also, you know, is the President of the United States. Not exactly what you'd call a traditional candidate for the Vatican’s top job.
And yet, Trump couldn’t resist jokingly pitching himself when asked who should fill Pope Francis’ holy shoes. Though he clarified that he had “no preference” for who’s chosen, he still offered a few unsolicited thoughts on the election.
“I must say, we have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York who’s very good, so we’ll see what happens,” he added.
That “very good” cardinal is widely presumed to be Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York. While he’s not considered a frontrunner, another American—Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark—is reportedly in the mix. Still, the Catholic Church has never had a Pope from the U.S., and there’s no indication it’s about to start now.
The Vatican conclave is set to begin on 7 May in the Sistine Chapel, where over 100 cardinals will gather in secret to select the next Pope. And while there’s no rule stopping someone from joking about becoming the next pontiff, there are a few actual requirements: candidates must be male, unmarried, at least 35 years old, and — minor detail — Catholic.
They also need to have studied theology, canon law, or the Bible. And while Trump may have opinions on all three, formal training isn’t something he’s claimed on his résumé.
Still, in a world where anything feels possible, some on social media are pretending to entertain the thought. Whether it’s satire, trolling, or just America being America, the idea of a Pope Trump is now floating out there in the cultural ether. And honestly? Stranger things have trended.
Of course, Pope Francis' funeral wouldn’t be a Trump appearance without some fashion drama.
The President sparked backlash at Pope Francis’ funeral this week after showing up in a navy blue suit that many called inappropriate for the solemn occasion. While other world leaders and dignitaries opted for traditional black attire in line with Vatican protocol, Trump’s outfit stood out — and not in a good way.
Social media users slammed the decision as tone-deaf, calling it “disrespectful” and “just classic Trump.” One X user wrote: “The Pope’s funeral called for dignity. Trump came dressed for a campaign rally. If there’s a spotlight, he’ll crawl into it - even at a Pope’s funeral.”