Donald Trump responds with answer everyone would expect when asked ‘who should be next pope’

The President of the United States thinks he knows exactly who should take over as the next Pope — himself.

When Donald Trump was asked who he would choose to replace the late Pope Francis, he gave the kind of answer many people would expect: he said he’d want the job. The 78-year-old former President said, “I’d like to be Pope. That’d be my number one choice.”

He believes he would be the perfect fit for the role, even though he’s not Catholic. Trump has always identified as a non-denominational Christian, not a member of the Catholic Church — which is important, since Popes have always come from the Catholic faith.

Pope Francis, whose birth name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died on April 21, Easter Monday, after suffering a serious stroke that led to a coma and eventually heart failure. He was 88 years old. People around the world called him the “People’s Pope” for his focus on helping the poor and speaking up for the forgotten. British politician Sir Keir Starmer said he was a Pope who stood for those who had no voice.

Now, the Catholic Church is preparing to select its next leader. Over 100 cardinals will meet on May 7 inside the Sistine Chapel to begin the process. It’s a very private and traditional election, and the rules about who can be Pope are very specific. The candidate must be male, at least 35 years old, unmarried, baptized in the Catholic Church, and trained in religious studies like the Bible, theology, or canon law.

Despite not fitting any of these requirements, Trump still suggested himself. He also mentioned that he wouldn’t mind if the next Pope came from the United States, saying there’s a “very good” cardinal from New York who could be a solid choice — though he didn’t name names.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham even jokingly supported Trump’s suggestion. He posted online that Trump would be a “dark horse candidate,” meaning someone who isn’t expected to win but could surprise people. Graham even said he was looking forward to the traditional white smoke that signals a new Pope has been chosen, jokingly writing “Trump MMXXVIII” (2028 in Roman numerals).

Trump attended Pope Francis’ funeral with his wife Melania, but as usual, he didn’t go unnoticed. He caused a stir with what he wore and had an unexpected conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before the service.

Although Trump’s comment about becoming Pope may not be serious, it has certainly stirred conversation and raised eyebrows, especially among Catholics.