President Donald Trump has as soon as once more discovered himself on the middle of a social media drama after posting an AI-generated picture of himself dressed because the Pope.
The picture, first showing on Reality Social, depicts Trump in full papal regalia, full with a white cassock, mitre, and huge crucifix. It later appeared on official White Home accounts.
From Donald Trump Reality Social 05/02/25 10:29 PM pic.twitter.com/6BmCkSY1Q8
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Reality Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) Might 3, 2025
As you’d think about, the submit has drawn a mixture of criticism – principally amusement, disrespect, and confusion. One X commenter mentioned, “Please take this down. Many Catholics, myself included, discover this as an awesome disrespect to the previous and future chief of our church.”
Others can’t assist however chuckle on the absurdity of all of it. However find it irresistible or hate it, you’ve received to confess – the picture has received individuals speaking.
Pope Francis handed away lately, and Trump already triggered backlash by stating, “I’d prefer to be Pope” earlier than suggesting {that a} “superb” cardinal from New York may very well be a possible candidate.
Trump’s divisive nature wants little introduction. The place he goes, unpredictability follows, having already drawn criticism for messing together with his cellphone and chewing gum on the Pope’s funeral.
The White Home has not but commented on the intent behind the AI-generated picture.
Trump was raised Presbyterian however now identifies as a non-denominational Christian, and has a fancy relationship with the Christian religion group given a few of his behaviors, convictions, and allegations.
Whereas he’s loved sturdy assist from conservative evangelical voters, his grasp of Christian doctrine has typically been known as into query.
After all, this isn’t the primary time AI has dipped into the world of faith. Final yr in Germany, an AI-powered avatar delivered a sermon to a packed home at St. Paul’s church. A computer-generated preacher took to the pulpit and waxed poetic about the whole lot from overcoming worry to trusting in Jesus, all whereas sporting a reasonably unsettling, unchanging expression.
Again in 2023, an AI-generated picture of Pope Francis himself carrying a classy Balenciaga puffer jacket made the rounds on social media. AI deep fakes have since turn into much more lifelike.
For now, nevertheless, the main focus stays on the upcoming papal conclave and the longer term route of the Catholic Church within the post-Francis period.
Because the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics await white smoke from the Sistine Chapel, Trump’s digital dalliance is just not seemingly to enhance his picture with many.
