Trump Faces Backlash for AI Image Depicting Himself as Pope During Vatican Mourning Period

Report By Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

U.S. President Donald Trump has stirred widespread outrage after posting an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope, just days before the Catholic Church’s solemn conclave to elect a new pontiff.

The image, published on both Trump’s Truth Social platform and the White House’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday night, showed Trump wearing traditional papal garments — including a white robe, gold crucifix, and mitre — while pointing toward the sky in a pose commonly seen in religious iconography.

The post comes as the Vatican observes a nine-day official mourning period following the funeral of Pope Francis, held on April 26. Cardinals from around the world are currently gathered in Rome to begin the confidential selection process for a new pope.

The image immediately triggered a wave of criticism from religious leaders and political figures. Matteo Renzi, former Prime Minister of Italy, condemned the post, calling it “an insult to believers” and accusing Trump of treating sacred traditions as a joke.

“This is not leadership; it’s a mockery of religion and institutions,” Renzi said.

In the United States, the New York State Catholic Conference, representing the state’s bishops, issued a firm rebuke:

“There is nothing amusing about this image, Mr. President. We are in mourning for Pope Francis. Please respect the sanctity of this time.”

Italian media outlets, including La Repubblica, labeled the post as “tasteless” and described Trump’s actions as a reflection of “delusional self-aggrandizement.”

Asked for a response, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump, stating he has long championed religious freedom and shown support for Catholic communities, even though he is not a practicing Catholic himself.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, appeared to mock the situation with a tongue-in-cheek post:

“Excited to hear Trump is open to becoming the next pope! Watching for white smoke… Trump MMXXVIII!”

Far-right influencer Jack Posobiec, who recently participated in a Catholic prayer event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, dismissed the outrage:

“I’m Catholic. People have been joking about the next pope all week. It’s called humor,” he posted.

While the Vatican has not released an official statement, insiders say Church officials view the image as inappropriate and are closely observing reactions as preparations for the conclave continue.