Senator Lindsey Graham Faces Backlash for Joking About Trump as Pope

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham is under fire after publicly endorsing former President Donald Trump’s tongue-in-cheek suggestion that he could be the next pope, following the death of Pope Francis in April 2025. Trump, speaking to reporters, joked that he would be his “number one choice” to succeed the pontiff, adding he had “no preference” but mentioning New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan as a serious candidate.

Graham, a Southern Baptist and longtime Trump ally, amplified the joke on social media, writing, “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 added, “The first Pope-U.S. President combination has many upsides. Watching for white smoke… Trump MMXXVIII!”—a reference to the year 2028 in Roman numerals and the Vatican tradition of white smoke signaling a new pope.

The remarks quickly drew sharp criticism online. Commentators, including Meghan McCain, urged Graham to “calm down,” while others accused the senator of sycophancy and questioned the seriousness of supporting a non-Catholic, twice-divorced American for the papacy. Critics highlighted the absurdity of the idea and referenced Graham’s history of shifting positions on Trump, recalling his earlier public criticisms of the former president as “unfit for office” and “not a conservative Republican”.

Despite the backlash, Graham’s spokesperson confirmed the comments were made in jest. The episode has reignited debate over Graham’s evolving relationship with Trump and his willingness to support the former president in unconventional ways, even as many observers view the exchange as emblematic of the current state of political discourse.