Trump sparks uproar by sharing a photo depicting himself as Pope Francis

*A Wild Ride with the White House and the Virtual Pope*

It's time for some digital drama as the White House takes a leap into the realms of AI-generated imagery, posting a hilarious (or offensive, depending on your perspective) image of President Donald Trump decked out in pointed miter, white cassock, and all – a dead ringer for the leader of the Catholic Church.

Yep, you heard it right! Just a few days before the papal conclave kicks off on May 7, marking the conclusion of Pope Francis' reign, the White House decided to add fuel to the fire by sharing an image of Trump as the next pontiff-to-be. And the internet is definitely taking sides!

Trump himself had humorously hinted at his desire to be the next Pope a few days prior, and the White House seemed to take his joke a step further by sharing the image on social media platforms like X and Instagram. But let's face it, it's hard to say if they were truly joking or stoking the fires of controversy.

While some found the image mere comic relief, particularly Trump's supporters, the Catholic community was not too amused. The Vatican's daily conclave briefing saw several questions about the controversial image, with Italian and Spanish news outlets expressing their disapproval. After all, the week is fraught with solemnity, as Catholics worldwide pay their final respects to Pope Francis and eagerly await the election of a new pontiff.

The flurry of chaos and outrage caught the attention of the Catholic community, with the New York State Catholic Conference voicing their displeasure and expressing that the President's actions were far from amusing.

When asked for a response, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump's actions, reminding everyone that the President had paid his respects to Pope Francis during his visit to the Vatican and was, in fact, a strong advocate for religious liberty.

But wait, there's more! Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held discussions on ways to end the war with Russia and formalized a minerals pact between the US and Ukraine, right before the funeral began. Get ready for even wilder times ahead, folks!

So, What's Trump's Pope Pick?

Curious minds want to know – who does Trump think should succeed Pope Francis? Well, he had a cheeky response for reporters during a press conference, claiming that he would be his top choice. That's right, folks – Trump wants to swap his MAGA hat for a bishop's hat! But don't get your hopes too high, as there's one major hurdle in Trump's road to the papacy – the conclave is held in secrecy to prevent external influences from deciding the new spiritual leader.

So, did Trump manage to influence the cardinals' choice? Only time will tell! Stay tuned for the papal conclave results and witness the unpredictable world of politics and the Catholic Church collide further.