U.S. President Donald Trump sparked a flurry of online reactions after posting a spoof image of himself dressed as the pope on his Truth Social platform. The AI-generated image shows Trump in traditional papal regalia, including a white cassock, a golden crucifix, and a ceremonial miter hat, with one finger pointed skyward in a dramatic gesture.
The post came shortly after Trump made a tongue-in-cheek comment to reporters, stating that he would like to be the next pope. “I’d like to be pope, that would be my number one choice,” he quipped, just days ahead of the Vatican conclave set to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21.
While clearly made in jest, Trump’s comments coincided with a solemn period for the Catholic Church, which is preparing for the conclave to be held on May 7 in the Sistine Chapel. The remark also follows Trump’s appearance at Pope Francis’s funeral last week, marking his first official foreign trip since returning to office.
Asked whom he supported for the papacy, Trump offered no clear preference but mentioned a “very good” cardinal in New York, likely referencing Archbishop Timothy Dolan. Known for his staunch conservative views and opposition to abortion, Dolan aligns with several of Trump’s political positions.
Trump’s history with Pope Francis has been marked by public disagreements. During Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, Francis criticized his immigration policies, particularly the proposal to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, stating, “Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian.”
Despite this, Trump has maintained a strong base among American Catholics. Around 20 percent of Americans identify as Catholic, and exit polls from the most recent election showed that nearly 60 percent of them supported Trump.
As the world watches to see who will lead the Catholic Church next, Trump’s humorous self-declaration as a papal hopeful adds a surreal and controversial twist to the already historic moment.
