- Saturday, May 03, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
US President Donald Trump has found himself at the center of controversy yet again after sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed in full papal regalia on his Truth Social account.
The post, which appeared just days after Pope Francis’s funeral, quickly drew backlash from social media users and Catholic communities, who accused Trump of mocking the late pontiff.
Pope Francis passed away last month at the age of 88 due to a stroke and heart failure, according to Vatican physician Andrea Arcangeli. His death marked the end of a historic papacy, and world leaders, including Trump, were present at the funeral service held in Vatican City. Despite the occasion’s solemnity, Trump’s latest online stunt has cast a shadow over his expressions of condolence.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 3, 2025
The digitally altered image of Trump wearing the traditional papal white robe and skullcap triggered swift condemnation. Many social media users labelled the post as “offensive,” “disrespectful,” and “narcissistic,” arguing that it made a mockery of Catholic traditions and the process of selecting a new pope.
“This is disrespectful to the Church and God himself… he’s the antichrist,” one user commented, reflecting the strong emotions the image provoked.
Another outraged user wrote, “How dare you mock the process we Catholics go through to pick a new pope. That is what Trump and his supporters are all about—disrespect, meanness, and stupidity.”
Criticism grew even sharper after resurfaced footage showed Trump joking about the papacy just days earlier. When asked who he would like to see as the next Pope, Trump quipped, “I’d like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice.” He later added that he had no particular preference but complimented a cardinal from New York, saying, “We’ll see what happens.”
As if to add fuel to the fire, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham took to X (formerly Twitter) to support the idea. “I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope,” Graham wrote. “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!”
The senator’s statement, though likely tongue-in-cheek, further polarized opinion. Critics saw it as yet another instance of political figures making light of religious institutions for attention or satire.
While some Trump supporters found the post humorous and saw it as a typical example of Trump’s irreverent style, the image and accompanying comments have offended many, especially within the Catholic community. Given the sacredness surrounding the Pope’s position and the timing following Pope Francis’ passing, the AI image has raised concerns over how artificial intelligence can be used to provoke, mock, or mislead, even in moments of mourning.
The incident underscores the increasingly complex role AI-generated content plays in public discourse, particularly when wielded by polarizing political figures.
