WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former President Donald Trump has come under fire from Catholic leaders and social media users alike after sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope. The post, shared without a caption on Trump’s Truth Social account and later reposted by The White House on X (formerly Twitter), sparked outrage — especially given that it came just weeks after the passing of Pope Francis.
The New York State Catholic Conference issued a firm statement in response:
“We just laid to rest our beloved Pope Francis, and the cardinals are preparing for a sacred conclave to select the next successor of St. Peter. Please do not mock us.”
Their message quickly went viral, garnering millions of views and igniting a wave of public reaction.
Online Reactions: “This Crosses the Line”
Social media users, both Catholic and non-Catholic, criticized the image as inappropriate and disrespectful. Some called it a mockery of faith during a time of mourning.
“I’m not even Catholic, and this feels wrong,” one person wrote.
“This isn’t funny — it’s tasteless and degrading.”
“Trump has no respect for the living or the dead,” added another.
Even some public officials joined in. Representative Ted Lieu (D-California) tweeted:
“As a Catholic, I take offense. Trump should focus on helping Americans instead of mocking our faith.”
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, speaking to Reuters, kept his comments brief but pointed:
“It wasn’t good. I hope he didn’t have anything to do with that.”
Supporters See Humor, Not Harm
Despite the criticism, some Trump supporters saw the image as lighthearted or simply political satire.
Vice President JD Vance defended the post, saying:
“Jokes don’t bother me — senseless wars do.”
Senator Lindsey Graham chimed in with humor, saying:
“There’s strong momentum for Trump to be the next pope — though some are resisting.”
Others expressed frustration with the Catholic Church itself, claiming the image didn’t offend them nearly as much as the Church’s positions on immigration or other political matters.
Trump’s “Pope” Comments Add Fuel to the Fire
Just days before posting the AI image, Trump joked, “I’d like to be pope,” and then playfully suggested New York’s own Cardinal Dolan as a possible successor to Pope Francis.
“We have a cardinal in New York who’s very good. So, we’ll see what happens,” Trump said, according to USA Today.
Whether it was meant as a joke or not, the timing and tone of the post have created a cultural stir that’s likely to linger — especially among Catholic voters who are still grieving a global religious leader.