US President Donald Trump has stirred controversy after posting an AI-generated image of himself dressed in papal attire, just days after jokingly expressing his desire to become Pope. While some social media users found humor in the post, others criticized it as highly insensitive, accusing Trump of mocking the death of Pope Francis.

Pope Francis, who passed away last month at the age of 88, suffered a stroke and heart failure, according to the Vatican’s official death certificate. Trump was among several world leaders who attended the Pope’s funeral, which was a solemn occasion for many Catholics worldwide.

However, Trump’s recent post on social media quickly garnered backlash. Many users expressed their disapproval, claiming that the image was in poor taste, particularly given the timing following the Pope’s death. One user called the post “disrespectful to the church and God himself” while another commented, “This is disgusting and entirely offensive.” Some went as far as accusing Trump of narcissism, with one tweet stating, “This is extremely disrespectful and narcissistic. Republicans really voted for that.”

Others criticized Trump for mocking the process of selecting a new Pope, with one comment stating, “How disrespectful to Catholics. That is what Trump and his maggots are all about—disrespect and meanness.”

The post was likely influenced by remarks Trump made earlier about the papacy. In a lighthearted conversation with a reporter, Trump was asked who he would like to see succeed Pope Francis. His response was quick: “I’d like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice.” He went on to mention a cardinal from New York, adding that he had “no preference” regarding who would become the next Pope.

Trump’s comment was met with amusement by South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who took to social media to vouch for Trump as the next Pope. Graham tweeted, “I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope. 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!”

Despite the playful nature of his comments, Trump’s recent post has sparked considerable debate and backlash, highlighting the sensitive nature of topics tied to religion and the recent passing of a religious figure like Pope Francis.