Lindsey Graham Trump Pope: After Pope Francis’ passing, Graham jokingly urged the Catholic conclave to consider Trump for papacy.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Graham said:
“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!”
He closed with, “Trump MMXXVIII!” — the Roman numeral for 2028 — and added, “Watching for white smoke…”
Meghan McCain Responds: ‘Get a Grip’
Not everyone found the joke amusing. Political commentator Meghan McCain quickly fired back, telling Graham to “get a grip.”
The exchange drew thousands of reactions online, further fueling the viral moment as the Catholic Church prepares for the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope.
Trump Teases Papal Interest After Francis’ Death
Graham’s remarks came shortly after former President Donald Trump himself said he’d “like to be pope,” joking with reporters after attending Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome.
“That would be my number one choice,” Trump said before clarifying he had “no preference” for the next pope.
Trump did praise New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, calling him “very good,” though Dolan is not expected to be a leading contender.
Conclave Set for May 7
After Pope Francis died of a stroke last week at age 88, the Vatican scheduled the official conclave to begin on May 7. Only cardinals under age 80 are eligible to vote. Of the 135 cardinal electors, several are still unconfirmed for attendance.
This will be the first papal election of the post-Francis era, and jokes aside, there has never been an American pope.
Humor Meets Headlines
While both Graham and Trump were clearly joking, the statements arrived during a solemn time for Catholics worldwide. Still, the moment sparked debates about political figures joking about sacred institutions.
Though no one expects to see Pope Trump I, the moment once again showed how Trump remains a central figure in public discourse—even in matters of religion.
Source: The Hill
