In one of his most unusual statements yet, US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would like to become the next pope, as preparations are underway for the papal succession following the death of Pope Francis.
“I want to be pope. That would be my number one choice,” Trump said from the White House lawn, just before departing for Michigan on a working trip, marking the 100th day of his second presidential term.
.@POTUS: "I'd like to be pope."
"We have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York who's very good, so we'll see what happens." pic.twitter.com/WPdRPwHxP9
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 29, 2025Asked by the press about his favorites for the next conclave, the president said he had no clear preference, but praised Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York: “We have a cardinal who happens to be from a place called New York, who is very good. We’ll see what happens.”
Although Trump had previously shown sympathy for Raymond Leo Burke, a cardinal from Wisconsin known for his ultraconservative stances and open enmity with Pope Francis, he now appears to have shifted toward Dolan, a more media-savvy prelate, also conservative, but with more moderate stances on issues such as migration.
The possibility of an American becoming papal president has historically been dismissed by the Vatican, which believes it would concentrate too much power in the hands of the United States, a country that already wields significant global influence.
There are currently six cardinal electors from the United States: Dolan, Burke, Sean O’Malley, Joseph Tobin, Blase Cupich, and Robert McElroy.
Trump’s statement has drawn reactions on social media and in international news, continuing his pattern of making provocative and attention-grabbing remarks.