Main articles: Hierarchy of theCatholicChurch and CatholicChurch by country. The crossed keys of the Holy See symbolize those of Simon Peter. Vice President JD Vance, who is the highest-ranking Catholic in federal government, has taken the side of his boss. The vice president said on Fox News that the pope should “stick to matters of, you know, what’s going on intheCatholicChurch” and leave the public policy to Mr. The image was posted on Trump’s official X accounts — one from the White House and one from his personal account. They were posted just after 5 a.m. on May 3, days after Trump told reporters in Washington , "I'd like to be pope. That would be my No. The White House then reposted the image on its official X account. Donald Trump, who was raised as a Presbyterian but now considers himself non-denominational, has nominated at least a dozen Catholics to top positions in his administration, including his own vice president JD Vance, a Catholic convert. White House X account shared the Trump-as-pope photo from @realDonaldTrump on Truth Social. As of May 6, 2025, days after a photo of Trump dressed as pope surfaced online, the X post has had 106 million views. No, but first lady Melania is. Pope Francis told 33,000 Catholics in Rome that “a personal, direct, immediate relationship with Jesus Christ” must be avoided at all costs.