The internet was abuzz with US President, Donald Trump’s AI-generated image as the Pope. Caught in yet another controversy, Trump was criticised widely, shortly prior to the Conclave to select Pope Francis’ successor and for mockery of the Catholic Church. Later, the image was also seen on the White House X account.

The image made rounds after Trump took to social media and shared a picture of him dressed as the Pope on his Truth Social account. Raising eyebrows with this joking expression, the AI-generated image was not received well.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked to respond to the criticism and said, as quoted by AP, “President Trump flew to Italy to pay his respects for Pope Francis and attend his funeral, and he has been a staunch champion for Catholics and religious liberty.”

Drawing flak from the post, the New York State Catholic Conference responded to the White House post that, “There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.”

ALSO READ

Causing a stir online, netizens reiterated that the world was still in the mourning period of the Pope’s death. Showing Trump in a white cassock and a bishop’s hat, the AI-image of “Trump Pope” was not left to be ignored. Users under the post of the White House questioned why an official government account posted it. While another user changed the image and shared an AI-version of Trump Hercules.

Garnering global reactions, Trump’s pope image was criticised by Matteo Renzi, the former Premier of Italy. He took to X and wrote, “This is an image that offends believers, insults institutions, and shows that the leader of the global right enjoys playing the clown. Meanwhile, the American economy risks recession, and the dollar is losing value. Sovereignists cause damage, everywhere.”

Pope Francis had a ailing health and passed away at 88 due to a double-pneumonia. Cardinals will now enter a conclave and thus choose the next pope of the Vatican. A blow for not only the Catholics, the Pope’s death was a blow to people who followed him for his ideals of peace.