WASHINGTON D.C. – An artificial intelligence-generated image depicting President Donald Trump dressed as the Pope has ignited significant controversy and backlash, particularly among Catholics, after it was shared via the President's Truth Social account and subsequently reposted by the official White House X (formerly Twitter) account late Friday night and into Saturday.
The timing of the post has drawn particular criticism, coming during the official period of mourning for Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, and just days before the College of Cardinals is set to convene in Rome for the solemn papal conclave on May 7 to elect his successor.
Image Details and Origin
The AI-generated image shows President Trump, who is not Catholic, seated in an ornate chair wearing traditional white papal vestments, including a pointed miter (bishop's hat), with his finger raised. The image was first posted by Mr. Trump himself on his Truth Social platform before being shared on the official White House X account, amplifying its reach and sparking questions about presidential decorum.
This is not the first instance of the Trump White House utilizing AI-generated imagery on official channels; a previous post in February depicted the President wearing a crown.
Sharp Rebuke from Catholic Leaders
The response from Catholic leaders and organizations was swift and critical. The New York State Catholic Conference, representing the state's bishops, posted directly to the White House on X:
"There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.”
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York who is in Rome for the conclave, called the image "not good" and used the Italian term "brutta figura," indicating it was embarrassing or made a bad impression. "I hope he didn't have anything to do with it," Cardinal Dolan told CBS News New York, though reports confirm Trump posted it first.
Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, stated the image was "deeply offensive" and called for an apology, writing that "By publishing a picture of himself masquerading as the Pope, President Trump mocks God, the Catholic Church, and the Papacy."
White House Defense and Divided Reactions
When asked about the criticism, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the President, stating, "President Trump flew to Italy to pay his respects for Pope Francis and attend his funeral, and he has been a staunch champion for Catholics and religious liberty.” The statement did not directly address the nature of the image or the specific criticisms of mockery.
Some supporters and allies defended the post as humor. Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, responded to criticism on X by stating, "As a general rule, I'm fine with people telling jokes..." Far-right influencer Jack Posobiec wrote, "I'm Catholic. We've all been making jokes about the upcoming Pope selection all week. It's called a sense of humor."
However, the image also drew criticism internationally, with former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi calling it "shameful" and offensive to believers and institutions. The Vatican's official spokesperson declined to comment on the matter during conclave briefings.
Context of AI and Political Discourse
The incident occurs amid broader discussions about the use of AI in creating political imagery and its potential for misinformation or causing offense. It also follows comments made by President Trump earlier in the week where he jokingly told reporters, "I'd like to be pope. That would be my number one choice," before mentioning Cardinal Dolan as a "very good" candidate from New York.
As cardinals prepare for the secretive and sacred process of electing the next leader of the Catholic Church, the controversy surrounding the AI-generated image highlights the sensitivities around religious symbols and the often-polarizing nature of contemporary political communication.
