In a move that has stunned theologians, historians, and anyone with a basic understanding of how the Catholic Church works, former President Donald Trump has declared that the idea of an American pope - specifically Cardinal Robert Prevost - was his idea.

Speaking at a rally in Florida today, Trump took credit for the groundbreaking concept of a US-born pontiff, despite the fact that Pope Francis appointed Prevost as head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops last year.

"Nobody thought of an American pope before me," Trump told the crowd, flanked by his usual array of MAGA hats and bewildered supporters. "I said it years ago - why can’t we have an American pope? The best popes, tremendous popes, should come from America. And now look - Boom! Prevost. A fantastic guy, by the way. Great hat."

When pressed by reporters on how exactly he influenced the Vatican’s decision-making process, Trump insisted he had "a lot of very powerful friends in the Pope business" and that his "very beautiful, very Catholic ideas" had clearly inspired the College of Cardinals.

Vatican officials, when reached for comment, responded with a mix of confusion and polite silence. "The Holy See does not typically take theological advice from reality television stars," said one anonymous source within the Vatican. "But if Mr. Trump would like to donate to the restoration of St. Peter’s Basilica, we are happy to accept checks."

Meanwhile, Cardinal Prevost himself seemed unaware of Trump’s alleged role in his rise. "I was ordained in 1985," Prevost told reporters. "I’m not sure how a real estate developer from New York factored into that."

Political analysts suggest this is just the latest in a long line of Trump’s "I thought of it first" claims, which have previously included windmills, the phrase "prime the pump," and, infamously, the concept of "truth."

As for whether Trump plans to take credit for any other major religious developments, sources close to the former president say he’s already drafting a tweet claiming he "basically came up with the Ten Commandments" and that Moses "never would have thought of them without me."

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