Claim:
Former U.S. President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as the Pope shortly after Pope Francis’s death, mocking the Catholic faith.
Fact:
Trump did share an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the Pope via official White House social media handles; however, while the timing was sensitive, the White House stated the post was not intended to mock the Catholic Church.
The Claim
On April 21, Pope Francis passed away, prompting global mourning from the Catholic community. Just days later, former U.S. President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the Pope on his social media platforms, including official White House-linked accounts.
The image depicted Trump wearing a white cassock, a pointed mitre, and a cross, with his finger raised in a papal gesture. Critics accused Trump of mocking the Catholic Church and showing disrespect during a solemn period when the Vatican is preparing for the conclave to elect the next pope.
The Image in Question
- AI-generated
- Shows Trump in full papal attire
- Shared publicly on social platforms
- Posted shortly after Pope Francis’s funeral
The image, while not real, was realistic enough to cause public confusion and controversy. It was created using advanced generative AI tools, similar to Midjourney or DALL·E.
Public Backlash
New York State Catholic Conference Response:
The Catholic Conference, representing bishops in New York, publicly condemned the image:
“There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr President. 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.”
🇮🇹 Italian Reaction:
Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi also criticized Trump, stating:
“This is an image that offends believers, insults institutions, and shows that the leader of the right-wing world enjoys clowning around.”
The timing of the post, so close to the death of a globally respected religious figure, intensified the reaction.
White House Denial
Trump’s team rejected claims that the image was intended to mock the Catholic Church.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded:
“President Trump flew to Italy to pay his respects to Pope Francis and attend his funeral, and he has been a staunch champion for Catholics and religious liberty.”
However, the image was not removed, and no formal apology was issued.
Context & Comparisons
This isn’t the first time a U.S. President has come under scrutiny for Catholic-related controversy:
- Joe Biden, a Catholic, was criticized in 2023 for making the sign of the cross at a pro-abortion rally — an act many Catholic leaders found offensive.
Trump’s post appears to be part of a growing trend of politicians using AI-generated images for shock value or symbolism — but religious sensitivities are rarely forgiving.
Verdict: TRUE
✅ TRUE — Donald Trump did post an AI-generated image of himself as Pope.
✅ The image was shared just days after the death of Pope Francis.
✅ Catholic leaders and global figures publicly condemned the act.
✅ The image was artificial but shared from an official social media handle.
Though the Trump campaign insisted it was not meant to offend, the facts confirm that the image was real (AI-generated), publicly shared, and received widespread criticism for its timing and insensitivity.