Trump Reveals His Ideal Pick for Pope, and It’s a Blow to Liberal Catholics

To the Catholic cardinals preparing to meet in conclave and select the next leader of the Church: we’re begging you—please make this a reality.

Do you want packed pews? How about overflowing donation baskets, fueled by generous tax cuts for new congregants? Then there’s only one answer: Pope Donald I.

During a Tuesday exchange with reporters, former President Donald Trump was asked who he’d like to see take over following Pope Francis’ passing. In classic Trump fashion, he didn’t miss a beat with his reply.

“I’d like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice,” Trump said with a grin in a video shared on X (formerly Twitter).

To her credit, the woman who posed the question could be heard laughing at the quip.

“No, I don’t know. I have no preference,” Trump followed up, turning briefly serious.

He then offered some praise for a familiar figure from his hometown.

“I must say we have a cardinal who happens to be out of a place called New York who’s very good,” he added. “So we’ll see what happens.”

As reported by Time Magazine, Trump appeared to be referencing Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the 75-year-old Archbishop of New York. The two have shared mutual praise over the years.

Despite the nod, Dolan is not seen as a front-runner in the papal succession. However, another contender from the conservative wing of the Church has drawn attention.

Cardinal Robert Sarah, a 79-year-old from Guinea, has emerged as a possible favorite among traditionalists. His deep-rooted values and humility stand in stark contrast to what some view as the performative progressivism of Pope Francis.

Conservatives, in particular, would welcome a Sarah papacy. He once described Europe’s immigration policies as an act of “self-destruction,” a stark departure from Francis’ open-border rhetoric, all while residing behind the heavily secured walls of the Vatican.

Ultimately, it’s up to the College of Cardinals to decide.

But in the meantime, the idea of a “Make Catholicism Great Again” era lingers.

Naturally, users on X jumped at the chance to imagine what “Pope Donald I” might look like, thanks to the magic of AI. And if this hilarious mock-up doesn’t brighten your day, not much will:

So again—cardinals, please consider this bold choice!

Imagine papal rallies. Picture a golf-playing pontiff.

Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica kicking off with commentary about the “huge crowd.”

And most of all, envision the global spotlight on Pope Donald I’s version of the Catholic Church.