US President Donald Trump jokingly declared himself his “number one choice” to become the next pope, telling a reporter, “I’d like to be pope,” while discussing potential successors to Pope Francis. Trump's joke drew attention, highlighting the contrast between his background as a US president, billionaire, and thrice-married man, and the typical pontiff. The nearly 2,000-year-old Catholic Church has never had an American pope, and Trump is not Catholic. When pressed on who he thinks should take the role, Trump said he had “no preference”, but added, “we have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York who’s very good.” He appeared to be referring to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, however, Dolan is not seen as a leading candidate in the ongoing papal succession. Trump’s remarks, while lighthearted, prompted a similarly playful response from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who took to social media to back the idea. “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-US President combination has many upsides. Watching for white smoke… Trump MMXXVIII!,” said Lindsey Graham. While neither Trump or Graham appears serious about the proposal, the exchange highlights Trump’s flair for showmanship, even when it comes to the highest office in the Catholic Church.