With Pope Francis recently passing away and the Vatican steeped in mourning, US President Donald Trump saw a rare opportunity: an open job with a fancy title, a golden chair, and a global spotlight.
Naturally, he announced his interest in the only way he knows how—by telling reporters, "I want to be Pope. It's my number one choice." Subtle as ever.
But wait—he didn't just say it. This is Trump, remember? The man doesn't stop at words when he can stage an entire casting call for himself.
On May 3, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as Pope on Truth Social. The image? Pure divinity: draped in immaculate white robes, a golden cross hanging from his neck, and a mitre perched proudly atop his head. The expression? Somewhere between holy wisdom and a boardroom firing.
The caption? There wasn't one. Because when you're Trump, the photo is the sermon.
The timing, of course, was impeccable—right in the middle of global mourning. But who says grief can't be glamourised? In Trump's world, even the Vatican is just another season of reality TV waiting to happen.
Make Catholicism Great Again?
Political analysts have already dubbed the moment "The Apprentice: Holy See Edition."
And don't worry about credentials. "I'm not Catholic, but I know the best Catholics. Tremendous people," Trump reportedly told no one in particular. "Also, the Pope outfit? Way better than those boring presidential suits. And the gold? You know I love gold."
Critics, of course, have raised concerns about taste. Is it appropriate to nominate yourself as the Pope when the real one just passed away? But such questions will not trouble a man who is yet to concede the 2020 election.
Meanwhile, his Truth Social account continues to resemble your uncle's WhatsApp group feed—heavily filtered photos, experimental AI art, and a complete disregard for timing or context. Trump has mastered the art of turning every moment into a selfie spotlight, whether it's a political rally or a papal funeral.
To his fans, it's just classic Trump—bold, brash, and somehow always the main character. To everyone else, it's another episode of The Trump Show, where he stars as the messiah, the martyr, and the marketing team—all rolled into one.
Stay tuned. Could there really come a day when The Donald shows up at the Vatican gates yelling, "You're fired!"?
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