Trump shares digitally altered image depicting himself as the Pope, sparking widespread internet backlash

In a rather audacious move, Donald Trump, the ex-US President, posted an AI-crafted snap of himself donning the pope's regalia, just weeks after Pope Francis's demise. The controversial picture was shared on Trump's Truth Social platform, shortly after his attendance at Pope Francis's funeral. The White House later reposted the image on its official X account.

The image in question shows an unsmiling Trump seated majestically, adorned in white papal vestments and headgear, with his right forefinger raised assertively. The image, understandably, sparked instant controversy on X, including from anti-Trump Republicans who perceived it as a sacrilegious mockery of Catholic faith. They swiftly reposted the image, expressing their discontent.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni declined to comment on the controversial image during a press briefing about the upcoming election of a new pope. Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, too, vocalized his disapproval, likening it to a performance by a pie-throwing clown amidst the American economy's impending recession and a falling dollar currency.

New York's Catholic bishops also voiced their disappointment, stating, "There's nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We've recently lost our beloved Pope Francis, and the cardinals are about to assemble a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us."

On a lighter note, Trump had jokingly expressed his wishes to be the next pope, but quickly suggested Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, as a promising candidate. Unfortunately for fans of the comedic side of politics, Dolan didn't make the shortlist of potential popes, though Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, did. To date, no pope has hailed from the United States.

In mid-February, both Trump and the official White House social media accounts published another AI-generated image of the president sporting a crown, boasting the caption "CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!".

Amidst the controversy, Debbie Macchia, a 60-year-old supporter, defended Trump in West Palm Beach, noting, "He was clearly joking. Clearly joking. But I wouldn't want to see them do anything sacrilegious with the pope, or anything." Evidently, the divide over Trump's actions remains as polarized as ever.

[1] CNN Belief: Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki says Donald Trump's AI-generated image of himself as the pope is deeply offensive to Catholics. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2023, from https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/25/us/donald-trump-ai-pope-image-criticism-trnd/index.html

[2] The Hill: Trump joked about wanting to become pope days before AI-generated image posted. (2023, May 26). Retrieved February 26, 2023, from https://thehill.com/homenews/media/3983089-trump-joked-about-wanting-to-become-pope-days-before-ai-generated-image-posted/

The controversial AI-crafted image of Donald Trump dressed as the pope, initially shared on the Truth Social platform, was widely criticized as a mockery of Catholic faith and politics by various parties on social-media, including anti-Trump Republicans.
In response to the criticism, other users swiftly reposted the image, expressing their disapproval towards Trump's actions.
Vatican officials and high-profile Catholics, such as bishops in New York and former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, denounced the image, voicing their disappointment and criticizing its insensitivity at a time when the Vatican was preparing for the election of a new pope.
Meanwhile, Trump had previously joked about wanting to become pope, but his AI-generated image posting risks further damaging relations between him and Catholic leaders, who recently lost their leader, Pope Francis.
As the controversy unfolded on social-media and general-news outlets, some expressed support for Trump, arguing that he was simply engaging in harmless entertainment in the realm of pop-culture, while others saw it as an inappropriate risk with potential to create further divisiveness.