Trump draws criticism with AI image of himself as the pope ahead of the papal conclave

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Sat May 3, 2025, 03:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: AP

Updated 1:51 PM EDT, May 3, 2025


NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as pope as the mourning of Pope Francis continues and just days before the conclave to elect his successor is set to begin. Trump’s action drew rebukes from a group representing Catholic bishops in New York and among Italians.

The image, shared Friday night on Trump’s Truth Social site and later reposted by the White House on its official X account, raised eyebrows on social media and at the Vatican, which is still in the period of nine days of official mourning following Francis’ death on April 21. Catholic cardinals have been celebrating daily Masses in his memory and are due to open the conclave to elect his successor on Wednesday.

The death of a pope and election of another is a matter of utmost solemnity for Catholics, for whom the pope is Christ’s vicar on Earth. That is all the more true in Italy, where the papacy is held in high esteem even by nonreligious Italians.

The image featuring Trump in a white cassock and pointed miter, or bishop’s hat, was the topic of several questions during the Vatican’s daily conclave briefing Saturday. Italian and Spanish news reports lamented its poor taste and said it was offensive, given that the period of official mourning is still underway.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-pope-francis-conclave-ai-image-bishops-9d88286886c350c4465f7c2afb7a5e41

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I hope all these 45-supporting Catholics take note of his mocking, including 5 of the 6 SCOTUS RWers -

[dem4decades]

1. Isn't that a demotion for Donald Trump Lord and Savior?

[Martin68]

8. He has a vertical monopoly.

[BlueKota]

2. He really is a sick disgusting asshole.

Apparently a lot of his magat ass followers never read the first commandment. "I am the lord thy God, thou shall not put false gods before me."

I am not even a practicing Catholic anymore but I am beyond disgusted and offended by this.

I knew he'd do this, but still furious.

[Sogo]

23. You've expressed my feelings exactly.

Thank you.

[underpants]

3. Standard cult response in X - it's a joke

Going back to:
He didn’t say that
Oh well then it’s not what you think
It’s a joke you need to lighten up

🙄

[Irish_Dem]

5. Abusers often claim the are "just joking." And we are just too stupid to get the joke.

[ananda]

26. Yes, I always call bullshit when they do that.

One time I threatened to take a fellow abusive bridge player
outside when he said that hitting me on the arm was just
"joking."

Guess what, he backed down and never did or said another
word that was not meek and mild.

[Irish_Dem]

27. Most people are confused or won't push back.

But yes if you set boundaries right away, the bullies usually back down and go on to the next victim.

[ananda]

32. A lot of it hasto do with white middle class nice patterns...

and that is especially true for women.

Even from a young age I would feel very uncomfortabe
when anyone would tell me what a nice person I am.

I really don't want to always have to inhibit myself that way.

[Irish_Dem]

36. Yes bullies count on most people responding initially with good manners.

When we are confused we default to proper manners in public.
Abusers use this to their advantage.

[ananda]

37. That's why I like the idea of zero tolerance for bullies.

It's time for Trump and co. to go!

[Martin68]

7. So they think joking about the Pope's death is funny? Bunch of degenerates.

[Irish_Dem]

4. What does it take for people to understand this guy is very mentally ill?

[BlueKota]

19. That's a good question!

All I can figure is as long as a person has lots of money, they could be a confirmed serial killer, and some people would still worship the ground they walk on, because they somehow are convinced by that whole trickle down crap theory.

[Irish_Dem]

22. Rape, drug use, treason, all kind of crimes are seen as normal now for the rich.

And dangerous mental illness is fine if you are rich enough.

[Martin68]

6. Real classy, Donald.

[Blue Owl]

9. Pope Pompous Pantload the Turd

[50 Shades Of Blue]

14. ROFL!!!! Perfect!

[Mr.Bee]

10. Just what the Catholic Church needs

another rapist pedophile.

[Bok_Tukalo]

11. Perfect that he stopped at "I" in "IC XC" hand gesture

AI has a sense of political criticism, it seems.

[Wingus Dingus]

12. Just attended the funeral, and is now mocking the Pope and the entire Church

and its followers. I want him to burn in hell so very badly.

[no_hypocrisy]

13. Telling silence from Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan (Archdiocese of New York)

Isn't this heresy? Blasphemy? Mocking Catholics?

[D. Spaulding]

15. We have to remember, all this stuff like this he does, is to

appeal to the right wing, always online, low information WWE fans that see him as a daddy figure. They are not a majority in this country, and we have to prove that

[Mountain Mule]

16. I am sure that an AI generated image of T***p as Jesus Christ will be up next

Unbelievable.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

17. Shiny squirrel! . . . . nt

[joanbarnes]

18. Sickened by this even tho I am a lapsed 'Cafeteria Catholic.'

[watertiger]

20. Not quite accurate

It would’ve been spot on if the cross was upside down

[PJMcK]

21. New name for Trump

St. Upid

[bmichaelh]

24. Trump is no Catholic

It is telling that of all the people invited to the funeral, Trump is the only one who now wants to be Pope.

Trump is not even a Catholic.

He may not even be a Christian.

He is a definite Ayn Rand materialist.

Apostle Paul defined love as:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4–7 NIV)

Complete opposite of what Trump is.

Trump's minister in his childhood was Norman Vincent Peale.
Peale campaigned against the presidency of JFK for no other reason that he was Catholic.
Peale was anti-Catholic.

[Harker]

25. Dope, sure. Pope, nope. n/t

[LetMyPeopleVote]

28. 'Do not mock us': Trump scolded by Catholic bishops over AI pope picture

I am Jewish and I was offended by this picture

'Do not mock us': Trump scolded by Catholic bishops over AI pope picture

— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2025-05-03T19:00:14.982Z

Link to tweet

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-pope-picture/

Donald Trump was on the receiving end of a rebuke from the New York State Catholic Conference for posting an AI-rendered picture of himself as the pope just as the Congregation of Cardinals begins deliberations on the replacement for the successor of the late Pope Francis.

With the conclave of 133 electors scheduled to meet on May 7th, the president or one of his aides posted the picture on Truth Social which has set off a mini-firestorm even among some of his MAGA supporters with one Trump fan writing, "I love Trump but his post isnt funny. Pretty scary actually."

The Catholic Bishops of New York State agreed.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, they wrote on the @NYSCatholicConf account, "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."

They then added, "Do not mock us."

Link to tweet

[ificandream]

29. The dope evokes the pope and makes us choke.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

30. This stunt is offensive to me and I am Jewish

[LudwigPastorius]

31. If there is brown smoke coming out of the Vatican chimney,...

we'll know Trump has been selected as Pope Incontinencius I.

[GoodRaisin]

33. The American President presenting himself to the world as an imbecile

right after sleeping at the Pope’s funeral. Not a serious person. The whole world laughs at him and pities us.

[NH Ethylene]

34. He wants to be in ALL positions of power.

And is likely jealous of the elaborate funeral and widespread mourning over the Pope's death. Nothing is ever enough for a narcissist.

[live love laugh]

35. Attention-grabbing by shock or insult is just another form of propaganda. Republicans know it, and use it expertly.