Donald Trump is once again at the center of controversy — this time for posting an AI-generated image that depicts himself as the Pope, sparking outrage among Catholic leaders and believers around the world.
The digitally altered image, which shows the U.S. president dressed in traditional papal attire — a white cassock, a pointed mitre, and a large cross necklace — was shared Friday evening on official White House social media accounts. In the image, Trump raises a single finger while wearing a serious, almost saintly expression.
The timing of the post has drawn particular criticism, as it comes just weeks after the death of Pope Francis on April 21. The Catholic Church is currently in a solemn period of mourning, with cardinals preparing to convene this Wednesday in a conclave to elect a new pope.
Catholic Leaders Condemn the Image
Reaction from Catholic leaders has been swift and severe. The New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the state’s bishops, denounced the image in a pointed post on X (formerly Twitter).
“There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President,” the group wrote. “We just buried our beloved Pope Francis, and the Church is in mourning. The cardinals are preparing for one of the most sacred processes in our faith. Do not mock us.”
The image, widely circulated across social media platforms, has been viewed as tone-deaf and disrespectful by many, especially as it follows Trump’s recent remark to reporters, “I’d like to be Pope,” which was intended as a joke but is now being seen in a more controversial light.
International Reaction and Political Repercussions
The backlash has not been limited to U.S. clergy. Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, a prominent center-left politician, slammed the post, saying it insults both believers and religious institutions.
“This is an image that offends people of faith, disrespects institutions, and proves that the leader of the right-wing world would rather clown around than lead seriously,” Renzi wrote on X in Italian.
Meanwhile, the Vatican has remained tight-lipped. Spokesman Matteo Bruni declined to comment when asked about Trump’s post during a press briefing on Saturday, citing the Vatican’s focus on the upcoming papal conclave.
White House Defends the Post
Despite the growing criticism, the Trump White House pushed back against claims that the post was intended to mock the Catholic Church or the memory of Pope Francis.
“President Trump flew to Italy to attend Pope Francis’s funeral and pay his respects,” said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement. “He has always stood strong for religious liberty and has been a consistent ally of the Catholic community. The image was shared as part of a broader tribute, not meant to offend.”
Still, the controversy shows no sign of slowing down.
Even Trump Allies Voice Concern
Perhaps most notably, New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan — a longtime acquaintance of Trump — expressed discomfort with the image after attending a Mass in Rome.
“It wasn’t good,” Dolan told reporters, adding that he hopes Trump “didn’t have anything to do with that personally.” Switching briefly to Italian, he called it a “brutta figura,” an expression meaning an embarrassing or bad impression.
When asked if the image should be taken down or if an apology was warranted, Dolan responded only, “Who knows?” and declined to elaborate.
A Familiar Pattern of Provocation
This is far from the first time Trump has been accused of offending religious communities. In March 2024, he stirred global controversy by transferring hundreds of suspected Venezuelan gang members to a prison in El Salvador. Before that, he frequently clashed with religious leaders over immigration policies and his handling of racial justice protests.
Even President Joe Biden, a Catholic himself, has faced criticism from within the Church. In 2023, Biden was slammed for making the sign of the cross at a pro-abortion access rally — an act that many religious conservatives viewed as deeply inappropriate.
But Trump’s AI papal image seems to have struck a particularly raw nerve, blending advanced technology with sacred symbolism during one of Catholicism’s most solemn moments.
As social media debates rage and Catholic leaders voice their discontent, one thing is clear: Trump’s digital papacy is not sitting well with many in the pews.