Social Media users have shared a wave of memes and jokes after President Trump shared an AI generated image of himself as the pope via his Truth Social website on Friday.
Newsweek contacted the Vatican for comment on Saturday by email outside of regular office hours.
The Context
Pope Francis, the first South American pontiff, died on April 21 at the age of 88. His funeral took place on April 26 and was attended by a range of world leaders including President Donald Trump and Prince William.
Francis’ successor is due to be selected by members of the College of Cardinals during a papal conclave that is due to begin on May 7 at the Vatican.
What To Know
A screenshot of Trump’s pope post on Truth Social was shared on X by conservative commentator Laura Loomer who added: “President Trump just posted this on Truth Social. It comes after he told the media this week that he wants to be the next Pope.”
In response to Loomer’s post, one X user from Texas shared a different mocked up image of Trump as the Pope appearing on CNN, with the strapline “TRUMP DECLARES HIMSELF NEW POPE: ‘NO ONE KNOWS MORE ABOUT POPING THAN ME.’”
Pope Trump pic.twitter.com/xvCHQHb78b
— Brett (@brettsmith62) May 3, 2025
Another X user shared an altered image which appeared to show orange smoke coming out of the Vatican, adding: “Well, it’s been confirmed that President Trump will also be know a Pope Trump. There was orange smoke seen at the Vatican.”
Well, it’s been confirmed that President Trump will also be know a Pope Trump. There was orange smoke seen at the Vatican. pic.twitter.com/YiBgvcc7hB
— GhostCypher1 (@GhostCypher04) May 3, 2025
The Vatican releases white smoke when a new pope has been elected.
A third X user posted what appeared to be an AI created image of Trump in religious garments blessing a cheeseburger. They wrote: “Pope Trump just canonized the ‘Holy Cheeseburger’ ‘It’s tremendous, folks—best saintly snack, believe me!’
Pope Trump just canonized the “Holy Cheeseburger” “It’s tremendous, folks—best saintly snack, believe me!” pic.twitter.com/25w53jgl9P
— NewsTicktrader (@TicrZap) May 3, 2025
A parody account impersonating Trump’s youngest son Barron also shared a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social post, adding: “Give Dad a Pope name?”
Suggestions offered by other users included “Pope Magasus,” “Pope Foolamus” and “Pope TRUMPendous the first.”
On Tuesday Trump was asked who he thought should be the next pope to which the president jokingly replied: “I’d like to be pope.”
The following day he added: “That would be my number one choice. No, I don’t know, I have no preference. … I must say, we have a cardinal [Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York since 2009] that happens to be out of a place called New York, who’s very good.”
Trump would have to be ordained as a Roman Catholic bishop to qualify.
“One of the cardinals from the College of Cardinals usually is elevated to the office of pope, but any male in good standing with the Church could be elected. If he is not a bishop, he must first be ordained. A layman could be chosen. The election of a heretic or a schismatic, however, is forbidden,” according to the Catholic Standard.
According to odds released by bookmaker William Hill on Friday Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was the favor to be the next pope with odds of 9/4 (30.8 percent) ahead of Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin at 5/2 (28.6 percent).
What People Are Saying
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina posted to X on Tuesday: “I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope. This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility! The first Pope-U.S. President combination has many upsides. Watching for white smoke…. Trump MMXXVIII!”
The Republicans Against Trump X account on Friday: “Donald Trump just posted a photo of himself as the Pope. It’s full-on lunacy at this point.”
Trump on Truth Social earlier this month: Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!”
What Happens Next
The next pope will be selected at the papal conclave which is scheduled to begin on May 7. White smoke will be released to announce when a new pope has been chosen.
The post Pope Trump Picture Sparks Avalanche of Jokes, Memes appeared first on Newsweek.
