U.S. President Donald Trump has come under fire after posting an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the Pope, just days after the funeral of Pope Francis. The image, which showed Trump in traditional papal garb, was first shared on his Truth Social account and later reposted by the official White House X handle. The timing of the post, coinciding with the Vatican’s preparations to elect a new pope, has drawn condemnation from Catholic leaders and politicians across the globe.
Catholic Leaders and Public Figures Express Anger
The New York State Catholic Conference strongly denounced the image, calling it disrespectful and offensive to a grieving global Catholic community. “There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President,” the bishops’ group stated. “We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave. Do not mock us.” New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, a longtime acquaintance of Trump, expressed his disapproval, calling it a “brutta figura”—an Italian phrase meaning an embarrassing display. Meanwhile, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni declined to comment officially, reflecting the Holy See’s usual policy of remaining neutral in global political controversies.
White House Defends President, Cites His Support for Catholics
Despite the widespread criticism, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump, saying he had flown to Italy to attend Pope Francis’ funeral and had long been “a staunch champion for Catholics and religious liberty.” She dismissed the backlash, asserting that the image was meant in jest and was not intended to belittle Catholic traditions.
International Criticism Intensifies
The controversy has not been confined to U.S. borders. Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called the post “shameful” and accused Trump of trivializing institutions during a time of global mourning. “This is an image that offends believers, insults institutions and shows that the leader of the right-wing world enjoys clowning around,” Renzi posted on X. He also criticized Trump’s political allies, drawing a link between the post and broader issues affecting Western democracies.
Trump’s Jokes About Papacy Fuel the Fire
The image followed Trump’s earlier remarks during a media interaction where he quipped, “I’d like to be Pope,” despite not being Catholic. The comment triggered both amusement and outrage. Adding to the spectacle, Vice President JD Vance joked that Secretary of State Marco Rubio could also be considered for the papacy, further irritating many religious figures. When questioned about the mockery and backlash, Vance downplayed the image, saying, “I’m fine with people telling jokes,” before pivoting to criticize former Bush adviser Bill Kristol for past military decisions. The response triggered additional backlash online.
Trump also endorsed Cardinal Timothy Dolan as a potential successor to Pope Francis, though Vatican insiders warned that such public endorsements could hurt Dolan’s chances. Trump’s history of tensions with the late Pope was well known, particularly over immigration policies and humanitarian issues. In one of his final public messages, Pope Francis had even condemned U.S. deportation policies supported by the Trump administration.
As the conclave to select the next pope prepares to convene, Trump’s AI image has become a flashpoint in the ongoing cultural and political clash between traditional religious values and modern political theatrics. With both supporters and critics weighing in from across the globe, the fallout from the AI post reflects the continued polarization of global discourse in the age of artificial imagery and digital satire.
