Former President Donald Trump has made a lot of noise lately, not quite like this—at least not with such infectious charm and whimsy. He joked with the press that he wanted to be named pope. “I would like to be pope,” he remarked, adding, “that would be Trump’s number one choice.” This humorous observation from Tino was the result of his recent trip to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis. While there, he had an in-person meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In a long thread of posts on his new social media platform Truth Social, Trump called himself “the king.” He declared, “Manhattan and all of New York is saved. Long live the king,” as he continues to assert his influence in the political landscape. Ripple effects These posts managed to be smart, brassy, and self-assured. The strongest display of his creativity came when he released AI-generated portraits of him wearing royal garb.
As if on cue, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Taylor Budowich, piled on to the royal conceit. He then shared an AI image of Trump wearing a golden crown with the caption “FUTURE KING OF AMERICA.” This broader use of digital imagery makes sense not just in the context of the campaign’s relatively new embrace of creative digital engagement with core supporters.
Trump has put forth three ambitious proposals so far. He promises to repeal Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, call on the Federal Reserve to reduce interest rates following an unexpected jobs report in April, and appoint his national security advisor Mike Waltz to be ambassador to the UN. On top of that, he announced plans to scrap New York City’s congestion pricing program, promising that “congestion pricing is dead.”
The unexpected death of Pope Francis completely reshuffled the political landscape. He had died due to complications from a stroke. Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019 and met with the Pope just one day before his death, has been involved in discussions regarding religious and political matters in light of this event.
As Trump continues to shrewdly traverse the intersection of politics and personal branding, his incendiary statements and actions still manage to shock. His combination of the absurd and the serious political devotion establishes a mythic arc that—whether intentional or not—appeals deeply to most of his acolytes.