Trump shares AI-generated photo of him dressed as pope

President Trump shared an AI-generated photograph of himself dressed arsenic the pope conscionable days aft telling reporters that he'd "like to beryllium pope."

The representation – which Mr. Trump archetypal posted connected his societal media platform Truth Social – was besides shared by the White House's authoritative social media account connected Friday. It comes arsenic cardinals from astir the satellite are acceptable to stitchery successful Vatican City to take Pope Francis' successor arsenic the person of the Catholic Church.

The representation shows Mr. Trump seated successful an ornate chair, dressed successful achromatic papal vestments and headdress, with a digit raised.

Mr. Trump, who is not Catholic, joked to reporters extracurricular the White House connected Tuesday that helium would similar to win Francis, who died astatine 88 past month.

"I'd similar to beryllium pope. That would beryllium my No. 1 choice," helium said.

The president noted that helium really had nary preference, adding, "I indispensable say, we person a cardinal that happens to beryllium retired of a spot called New York who's precise good, truthful we'll spot what happens."

Mr. Trump was referring to Timothy Cardinal Dolan, archbishop of New York. While determination has ne'er been a pope from the U.S., Francis was the archetypal from the Americas.

Francis died of a changeable that yet led to irreversible bosom failure, according to a decease certificate issued by the Vatican.

Mr. Trump and archetypal woman Melania Trump were among the dignitaries who attended Francis' funeral past week. While there, Mr. Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Days later, Ukrainian and U.S. officials signed a associated economical concern woody connected Wednesday that includes granting the U.S. entree to Ukrainian uncommon world minerals.

President Trump and archetypal woman Melania Trump astatine the ceremonial of Pope Francis successful St. Peter's Square connected April 26, 2025 successful Vatican City. Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni, according to Reuters, declined to remark connected the representation shared by Mr. Trump during a briefing with journalists astir the process of electing a caller pope, which begins connected May 7. Some 133 cardinals volition take the adjacent pope, with nary wide frontrunner successful sight.

The AI-generated representation sparked backlash from immoderate connected societal media, portion others defended it arsenic a joke.

Former Republican National Committee president Michael Steele, an outspoken professional of the president, criticized the station and said it "affirms however unserious and incapable [Mr. Trump] is."

The New York State Catholic Conference accused Trump of mockery.

"There is thing clever oregon comic astir this image, Mr. President. We conscionable buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are astir to participate a solemn conclave to elite a caller successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us," they wrote connected X.

Debbie Macchia, 60, a protagonist of the president extracurricular his play nine successful West Palm Beach, Florida connected Saturday morning, told Reuters helium was "clearly joking."

"But I wouldn't privation to spot them bash thing sacrilegious with the pope, oregon anything," she said.

CBS News has reached retired to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for comment.

This is not the archetypal clip Mr. Trump oregon the White House has shared an AI-generated photograph of the president.

In mid-February, their authoritative societal media accounts posted a antithetic AI-generated image of Mr. Trump wearing a crown and captioned "CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and each of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!"

In:
• Pope Francis
• Vatican City
• Donald Trump