WASHINGTON, USA – U.S. President Donald Trump has come under fire after posting an AI-generated image of himself dressed as a pope, just days after the death of Pope Francis.
The image, shared on his social media platform, Truth Social, showed Trump clad in white papal robes, adorned with a mitre and a large crucifix.
The post, coincided with the start of the Vatican conclave to select a new pontiff.
It follows comments Trump made to reporters on the White House lawn earlier this week, where he jokingly stated, “I’d like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice,” adding that while he had no preference, he thought “there’s a cardinal in New York who’s very good.”
The AI-generated post quickly drew criticism from religious communities and social media users alike.
“Please take this down,” wrote one user. “Many Catholics, myself included, find this as a great disrespect to the past and future leader of our church.”
Another commenter said: “Trump, as someone outside the U.S., I find your post utterly disrespectful to the Catholic community worldwide. The papacy is a sacred institution for millions, and this mockery is an affront to their beliefs.”
The backlash adds to the controversy surrounding Trump’s recent appearance at Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican City.
The President, who wore a bright blue suit rather than the traditional black, was seen chewing gum during the service — a moment captured on live broadcasts that sparked further outrage.
Critics also questioned the propriety of his impromptu meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the ceremony.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 following complications from a stroke and heart failure.
The Vatican has since entered the official period of mourning and the conclave is underway to elect his successor.
The Trump team has not issued a formal response to the criticism surrounding the AI image.
Meanwhile, Catholic leaders and advocacy groups have called for more sensitivity from public figures during the solemn transition period in the Church.
No statement has been released by the Vatican on the matter.
