Trump Faces Catholic Criticism Over AI Pope Image Post
The White House has rejected suggestions that President Trump was making fun of the papacy.
US President Donald Trump has drawn criticism from some Catholics after sharing an AI-generated image depicting himself as the Pope. The picture, posted on official White House social media accounts, comes as Catholics mourn the recent death of Pope Francis on 21 April and prepare for the selection of the next pontiff.
The image shared by Trump on Friday (May 2) night shows him wearing a white cassock and a pointed mitre, traditionally worn by a bishop. He is also seen wearing a large cross and holding his finger up with a solemn facial expression.
The post follows Trump joking to reporters days earlier, “I’d like to be Pope”. The New York State Catholic Conference, representing bishops in New York, accused Trump of mocking the faith. The group took to X (formerly Twitter), stating, “There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr President“. They added, “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”.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 3, 2025
Left-leaning Italian former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi also criticised the post, calling it an image that “offends believers, insults institutions and shows that the leader of the right-wing world enjoys clowning around”.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni declined to comment on Trump’s post during a briefing with journalists on Saturday (May 3), as the Vatican prepares to host a conclave starting Wednesday to choose Pope Francis’s successor.
However, the White House has rejected suggestions that President Trump was making fun of the papacy. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “President Trump flew to Italy to pay his respects to Pope Francis and attend his funeral, and he has been a staunch champion for Catholics and religious liberty”.
The reports also note that Trump is not the first president to face accusations of mocking the Catholic faith, mentioning that former US President Joe Biden caused outrage a year ago when he made the sign of the cross at a pro-abortion access rally in Tampa, Florida.
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