President Donald Trump triggered a wave of global backlash after sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope, just as the Vatican enters its solemn period of mourning following the death of Pope Francis.
The digitally created image, posted to Trump’s Truth Social account and later reshared by the White House on its official social media, shows him seated in ornate papal robes, raising a finger in a pose reminiscent of traditional Vatican portraiture.
The post quickly ignited criticism from religious leaders and international figures. The image was widely condemned as disrespectful, with some faith groups calling it an offensive and poorly timed stunt. Critics argued it trivialized the mourning of a religious leader and crossed a line between political self-promotion and religious insensitivity.
Former European leaders and religious groups labeled the act as insulting, while many online users questioned the motive behind the timing and tone of the post.
Despite the criticism, a number of Trump’s allies dismissed the backlash. Senator Lindsey Graham joked about the image, calling Trump an unexpected contender for pope, and Vice President JD Vance suggested people should be able to take a joke.
The incident adds another layer to ongoing debates around the intersection of politics, digital media, and respect for religious tradition—especially at a time when the Vatican is preparing to select the next leader of the Catholic Church.