KEYPOINTS SUMMARY
- Trump posts an AI image of himself dressed as the pope on Truth Social
- The post triggered backlash from Catholic leaders and Vatican observers
- The Vatican is still in mourning after Pope Francis’ death on April 21
- Trump joked he’d like to be pope and is now producing “Trump Pope” merch
- 40 days of solemn mourning apparently weren’t enough to hold him back
- Italian and American Catholic groups slammed the image as “disrespectful”
- Trump allies claim it’s just “a joke” — but nobody at the Vatican is laughing
- Over a million Trump Pope T-shirts are now headed to production
Trump Pope AI Image Controversy: The Holy Sh*tstorm That’s Burning Up the Internet
In case you missed the latest collision of politics, religion, artificial intelligence, and American ego: Donald J. Trump has declared himself Pope — sort of.
Well, not officially. But on Friday night, the former U.S. President posted a glorious, AI-generated image of himself dressed in full papal regalia, complete with miter, cassock, and the smug smile of a man who thinks he just got promoted above God.
Yes. That happened.
And just like that, the Trump Pope AI image controversy was born — and the holy hellfire hasn’t stopped since.
Timing, As Always, Is (Im)Peculiar
The post came just as the Vatican was in the middle of nine days of solemn mourning following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
With the conclave to elect the next pope set to begin, the last thing the Vatican probably wanted to deal with was a photoshopped ex-president cosplaying as the Vicar of Christ.
And yet—there it was.
Posted first on Truth Social, reposted by US LIVE, and even briefly shared by the White House X account before someone (maybe) realized what they had done.
The Reactions: Vatican Cringes, Internet Explodes
The image, of course, went viral instantly. Supporters hailed it as “iconic.” Critics called it “blasphemous.” Neutral observers simply blinked and refreshed to make sure it was real.
The Vatican declined to comment, which is usually code for “we’re too horrified to put words to this.”
But Catholic voices in Italy and the U.S. were less reserved.
The New York State Catholic Conference, which represents Catholic bishops, issued a scathing rebuke:
“There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis. Do not mock us.”
Italy: Absolutely Not Amused
Italian media was having a field day — but not the joyful kind.
La Repubblica, the left-leaning Italian paper, ran the image on its homepage with a headline declaring Trump’s actions “pathological megalomania.”
Former Italian Premier Matteo Renzi went full-throttle on X:
“This image offends believers, insults institutions, and shows that the leader of the right-wing world enjoys clowning around.”
Harsh? Maybe. But Trump does have a way of turning papal mourning into pop culture moments.
Senator Graham and JD Vance Can’t Resist the Circus
Not to be outdone, Trump’s allies jumped in to lean into the chaos.
Senator Lindsey Graham chimed in on X:
“Watching for white smoke… Trump MMXXVIII!”
Yes, he actually wrote that. The “Pope-President” combo, apparently, is now a thing we’re pretending to consider.
Even Vice President JD Vance joked about Senator Marco Rubio being pope someday, adding fuel to the madness.
Joking or Not, Trump’s Not Backing Down
Was it a joke? Maybe. Was it poorly timed? Definitely. Is Trump apologizing? Absolutely not.
Instead of pulling back, the Trump camp is going full merch mode, announcing a “Trump Pope” T-shirt drop, expected to hit stores by the end of the week.
“We’re going to sell over a million shirts,” one producer bragged. “It’s going to be huge!”
Because of course it is.
AI Meets Ego: The Tech-Infused Audacity of It All
Let’s pause and talk about what this really is: AI + Trump’s ego = viral insanity.
This isn’t the first time Trump has used AI imagery to stir the pot. But it’s possibly the most brazen, given the religious context, the international mourning, and the fact that — fun reminder — Trump isn’t even Catholic.
He’s also divorced. Three times.
And yet, somehow, here we are — watching him insert himself into a conclave like he’s auditioning for a Netflix original called The Holy Deal: How I Saved the Vatican.
The Bigger Issue: Why It’s Not “Just a Joke”
While the image may seem like harmless trolling to some, many Catholic leaders say it crosses a serious line, especially during the papacy’s mourning period.
“This is a sacred process,” one Vatican insider said. “This is not a campaign rally.”
That’s the thing. Even if Trump was joking (which he probably was), the damage was done.
The image traveled the globe.
It shifted attention away from the conclave.
And it planted — however absurdly — the idea that no space is safe from Trump’s reach.
Trump Even Floated an Actual Candidate: Cardinal Dolan
In true Trump fashion, he pivoted from the AI joke to floating a real name: Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York.
“I have no preference,” Trump told reporters. “But we have a very good cardinal in New York.”
Nice try, Donald. The Vatican doesn’t like outside campaigning, and it’s widely believed that too much public support can actually hurt a candidate’s chances.
In other words: if you enter the conclave a pope, you leave as a cardinal.
Pope Francis vs. Trump: The Long-Standing Tension
It’s no secret that Trump and the late Pope Francis clashed—often and publicly—on issues like immigration, climate change, and social justice.
Francis tried for over a decade to reshape the U.S. Catholic leadership into one more focused on compassion and less on culture wars.
Trump, naturally, prefers the opposite. And with a new pope on the horizon, the former president seems eager to make his voice heard — whether Rome likes it or not.
Trump Pope AI Image Controversy Is the Latest Twist in a Reality Show That Never Ends
Let’s be real. Only Donald Trump could turn a papal conclave into a merch drop.
The Trump Pope AI image controversy is everything we’ve come to expect from this political era:
- Chaotic
- Viral
- Technologically bizarre
- And somehow both hilarious and deeply unsettling
Whether it’s pathological megalomania, just bad timing, or next-level trolling, the image — and its fallout — prove one thing:
Trump doesn’t wait for permission. He posts, he sells, and he moves on.
As for the Vatican? They’ll keep praying.
As for us? We’ll keep refreshing. Because who knows what he’ll wear next — a cardinal’s robe? A halo? Maybe a new AI-generated Holy Grail selfie?
Stay tuned.
