Following the pa:ssing of Pope Francis, former U.S. President Donald Trump has humorously thrown his own name into the ring as a potential successor, despite not meeting several key requirements for the role.
Trump, now 78, declared himself his “number one choice” to replace Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday (April 21) at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke that led to a coma and cardiac failure.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was widely respected as the “People’s Pope,” with global leaders, including UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, praising his dedication to the poor and marginalized.
The process to elect a new pope officially begins on May 7, when over 100 cardinals will convene in the Sistine Chapel for the traditional conclave.
However, becoming pope is not an open candidacy—there are stringent requirements: candidates must be male, unmarried, at least 35 years old, baptized in the Catholic Church, and trained in theology, canon law, or scripture.
Despite identifying as a non-denominational Christian and lacking a background in Catholicism, Trump didn’t hesitate when asked who should step into the role: “I’d like to be Pope,” he told a reporter, adding that it would be his top pick.
While Trump’s self-nomination is clearly tongue-in-cheek, it raised eyebrows for both its audacity and humor.
His lack of Catholic faith alone would disqualify him from consideration, though that didn’t stop him from musing that an American pope might be a worthwhile idea. He even mentioned a cardinal from New York as a “very good” option, though he did not name the individual.
Trump’s suggestion was echoed, somewhat facetiously, by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Graham encouraged the conclave to “keep an open mind,” calling Trump a “dark horse candidate” and jokingly promoting the idea of a pope-president hybrid: “Watching for white smoke… Trump MMXXVIII!”
Trump also attended Pope Francis’ funeral, but not without stirring controversy.
He drew attention for his attire and was seen discussing international matters with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before the service—behavior that some critics deemed inappropriate given the solemn occasion.
While Trump’s comments were clearly not meant to be taken seriously, they added a characteristic flair of unpredictability to the global conversation around one of the world’s most sacred roles.
With the conclave approaching, the Catholic Church is preparing to select a new leader to guide more than a billion faithful worldwide, though it’s safe to say Trump’s name won’t be on the list.
