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On May 2, 2025, Donald Trump posted an AI-generated pope image on Truth Social, showing himself dressed in full papal regalia. The post—reshared by the White House’s official X account—arrived during the Church’s Novemdiales, a sacred nine-day mourning period for Pope Francis.
The timing and symbolism ignited immediate backlash.
Takeaway: The AI-generated pope image collided with a deeply sensitive moment for Catholics.
What the Image Showed
The image depicted Trump in traditional papal attire: a white cassock, golden cross, and mitre, seated in a throne-like chair. It followed Trump’s April 29 remark to reporters that he’d “like to be pope,” while name-dropping Cardinal Dolan as a possible successor.
Takeaway: Pairing the AI-generated pope image with light-hearted papal comments intensified the outrage.
Catholic Leaders React
The New York State Catholic Conference called the post “neither clever nor funny,” stating:
“We just buried our beloved Pope Francis, and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave. Do not mock us.”
Bishop Thomas Paprocki labeled it “deeply offensive” and demanded an apology.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan—a known Trump ally—said, “It wasn’t good,” and hoped Trump “had nothing to do with it.”
Jesuit priest James Martin added that a Democratic president wouldn’t have been let off so easily.
Takeaway: Across the Catholic spectrum, the AI-generated pope image was seen as deeply disrespectful.
Global Criticism and Vatican Silence
International outlets weighed in fast.
La Repubblica, a leading Italian paper, called it “pathological megalomania.”
Spanish media denounced it as “tasteless,” especially during the sacred mourning period.
Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said the image “insults institutions and offends believers.”
The Vatican, maintaining neutrality, declined to comment during a press briefing.
Takeaway: Global Catholic voices saw the image as crossing a line, even as the Vatican stayed silent.
White House Defense and Political Fallout
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump, noting he attended Pope Francis’s funeral and has “always stood up for Catholics and religious liberty.”
Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, dismissed the backlash: “Jokes aren’t war crimes.”
Senator Lindsey Graham leaned into the humor, calling Trump a “dark horse candidate for pope.”
But not all conservatives were laughing.
Michael Steele, former RNC chair, called the post “immature narcissism.”
Republicans Against Trump labeled it “lunacy.”
Democrats said Trump should focus on real issues, not “AI cosplay.”
Takeaway: Even some in Trump’s orbit saw the post as indefensible—especially given the timing.
Not Trump’s First AI Controversy
Trump has leaned into AI-generated visuals before.
In February, he posted an image of himself as a king after attacking New York’s congestion pricing.
In 2024, he used AI to suggest Taylor Swift endorsed him—she hadn’t.
But this AI-generated pope image, posted during a mourning period, struck a deeper nerve. The context made the post feel less like satire and more like sacrilege.
Takeaway: Trump’s use of AI isn’t new—but using it to portray himself as pope pushed a boundary many felt shouldn’t be crossed.
Final Word
Trump’s AI-generated pope image didn’t just provoke criticism—it ignited a global conversation about the intersection of AI, politics, and religion. At a moment when Catholics are grieving and preparing for a new pope, many believe Trump’s post was more than just bad timing—it was a deliberate provocation.
Whether intended as a joke or not, the response made one thing clear: AI-generated religious imagery, especially in political hands, won’t go unchallenged.
