Many People Apparently Can’t Take a Joke When AI-Generated ‘Pope Donald’ Image Circulated Online

Source: YouTube

The AI image of Pope Donald posted by Trump and the White House angers Catholics ahead of the conclave, raising questions over faith, timing, and intent. The controversy over “Pope Donald” began with a joke. On April 29, while speaking to reporters, President Donald Trump said he would like to be pope. That would be my number one choice, he added, while en route to a rally. Hours later, Senator Lindsey Graham amplified the comment by calling on the papal conclave to “keep an open mind” and consider Trump for the position. His post included an AI-generated video clip of the president in ceremonial robes with the caption, “Trump MMXXVIII!”

Days later, an AI image of Trump dressed as the pope appeared on his Truth Social feed. The same image, showing Trump in full papal regalia and seated on a throne, was reposted on the White House’s official account. It went live just before the cardinals were set to begin the conclave that will elect the next leader of the Catholic Church.

Religious Leaders Condemn Pope Donald Image And Its Timing

The timing struck a nerve. Pope Francis had only recently been laid to rest. Cardinals from across the globe were arriving in Rome to begin closed-door deliberations. That same weekend, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York was asked about the post after celebrating Mass at a parish near Vatican City. “I hope he didn’t have anything to do with that,” Dolan said. When pressed, he called the image a “brutta figura,” an Italian expression for a shameful act.

The New York State Catholic Conference went further. In a formal statement, it condemned the post: “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. Do not mock us.”

Father James Martin, a Jesuit priest and Vatican media advisor, said the post struck many as “deeply disrespectful” and showed “a lack of reverence during a sacred moment in the Church.” Other Catholic leaders echoed that view.

Asked on Monday about the photo, Trump denied involvement. “I had nothing to do with it,” he told reporters. “Somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the pope, and they put it out on the internet. That’s not me that did it. I have no idea where it came from.” He added that the image “might have been AI,” but claimed ignorance about its origins.

When asked if Catholics were offended, Trump said, “They can’t take a joke? You don’t mean the Catholics. You mean the fake news media. The Catholics loved it.” He later said that Melania Trump, a practicing Catholic, thought the image was “cute.”

White House Defends Trump While Allies Split On Reaction

Vice President JD Vance defended the post. A Catholic himself, he dismissed the outrage as political. “As a general rule, I’m fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars,” he wrote on social media.

Others in the White House took a different tone. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president had flown to Italy to attend the funeral of Pope Francis and had shown “nothing but respect for Catholics and religious liberty.”

But the photo raised concerns even among some Republicans. Former Governor Chris Christie told reporters that mocking the papacy, even as satire, was irresponsible for a sitting president.

Trump has a long history of using visual media and memes to stir public reaction. Many of his supporters viewed the pope image as humorous. Some allies, however, said the timing made it harder to defend.

Irreverent and/or Irrelevant

Catholic voters, millions of whom supported Trump in both 2020 and 2024, could see the image as either irreverent or irrelevant. Catholic Americans are not politically uniform, but they make up a crucial bloc in swing states like Pennsylvania and Arizona.

While the conclave prepares to elect a new pope, the public debate over “Pope Donald” continues. What started as a social media post now sits at the center of a larger conversation about faith, power, and the boundaries of political performance.

Should President Trump or the White House be held accountable for posting the AI-generated ‘Pope Donald’ image? Tell us what you think!

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