In a surprising and humorous remark, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed interest in a very different kind of leadership role — the papacy.
While boarding Marine One for a trip to Michigan, Trump was asked by a reporter who he would like to see elected as the next Pope.
“As Pope? I’d like to be the next Pope. That’d be my number one choice,” Trump said.
He followed up with, “No, I don’t know. I have no preference. I know we have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York that’s very good, so we’ll see what happens.”
Trump appeared to be referring to Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the current Archbishop of New York and a prominent figure within the American Catholic Church.
Trump and Cardinal Dolan’s Shared History
Cardinal Dolan previously interacted with Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, when he hosted the then-candidate at the annual Al Smith Dinner — a long-running Catholic charity event and political tradition. Vice President Kamala Harris notably skipped the same event during her own campaign, drawing comparisons to a rare past absence.
Reflecting on Harris’s absence, Dolan remarked: “This hasn’t happened in 40 years, since Walter Mondale turned down the invitation. And remember, he lost 49 out of 50 states. I don’t want to say there’s a direct connection there, but … we’re not giving up.”
Vatican Prepares for Papal Conclave
The Vatican has confirmed that the conclave to elect the next Pope is scheduled to begin on May 7. With global attention turning to Rome, speculation is mounting over who will succeed Pope Francis — though it’s safe to say that Trump’s name won’t be on the official list.
Still, the former president’s offbeat humor adds a splash of unpredictability to the already momentous occasion, and his mention of Cardinal Dolan may hint at his hopes for a fellow New Yorker in the Vatican’s highest office.
