Trump’s Papal Jokes Resurface
Here’s what Trump said earlier this week:
“I’d like to be pope. That would be my No. 1 choice,” he told reporters on April 29, before quickly backtracking. “No, I don’t know, I have no preference. I must say we have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York who is very good. So we’ll see what happens.”
Reporter: Who do you want to be the next Pope?
Trump: “I’d like to be Pope. That’d be my number one choice.”🤡 pic.twitter.com/gTIUBhXjMG
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) April 29, 2025
Trump was referring to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, who he appointed on May 1 to serve on the White House’s new Religious Liberty Commission.
The remark led to a flurry of reactions, including one from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who posted 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!
The first Pope-U.S. President combination has… pic.twitter.com/MM9vE5Uvzb
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 29, 2025
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AI and Trump’s Social Media Persona
Trump has a history of using AI-generated and digitally altered images on Truth Social. Last August, he shared fabricated images implying pop star Taylor Swift endorsed him. Around the same time, he posted an edited image casting himself and political allies as DC superheroes, including Elon Musk as Cyborg and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Aquaman.
This most recent post fits a pattern of online provocations that blur satire, ego, and political messaging—often without clarification.
Attending Pope Francis’ Funeral
Trump was among the world leaders who attended Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome on April 26. Viral clips circulated suggesting Trump fell asleep during the ceremony, but fact-checking site Snopes debunked those claims, stating that full video coverage did not support that narrative.
As the Vatican prepares to elect the next pontiff, Trump’s papal image post—whether intended as a joke, a meme, or a political statement—has added another bizarre chapter to the already unusual intersection of religion and politics in 2024.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
