Trump posts AI image wearing Pope's clothes, sparking outrage

Earlier today (Saturday), U.S. President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated image of himself dressed in papal attire, including a traditional papal mitre and a large cross necklace, on his social media platform, Truth Social.

The image depicted him seated on a ceremonial throne, raising a finger, and was later reposted on the official presidential account on X. The post, which lacked any accompanying explanation, quickly amassed tens of thousands of likes but also provoked significant backlash from social media users, particularly Catholics.

The controversy followed Trump’s recent comments during a press interaction on the White House lawn, where he was asked who should replace Pope Francis. Trump’s response, “I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice,” was perceived by some as flippant or provocative, setting the stage for the negative reaction to the image.

Social media reactions included strong criticism, with users describing the image as “disgusting,” “disturbing,” “disrespectful,” and “offensive.” One Catholic user wrote, “I love Trump, but I find his pope meme disrespectful and offensive. God is not to be mocked. This isn’t a wise decision,” while another urged, “Please take this down. Many Catholics, including myself, see this as a great disrespect to the past and future leader of our Church.”

The Catholic community in the U.S., which numbers approximately 70 million, is a significant demographic, and Trump’s post risked alienating a portion of his conservative Christian voter base.

During his presidency, Trump has courted evangelical and Catholic voters through policies like appointing conservative judges and advocating for religious liberty. The papal image controversy could strain these relationships, especially if religious leaders or organizations issue formal statements condemning the post.