Donald Trump’s AI-generated photo of himself dressed as the pope drew widespread condemnation on Saturday, including from Catholic bishops.
Trump, who jokingly told reporters earlier this week that he’d like to be the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church following Pope Francis’ death, posted the image on his Truth Social account Friday.
The photo of Trump dressed in white, wearing a pope’s hat and a necklace with a crucifix hanging around his neck, was later reposted to X by the official White House account.
The image comes as cardinals are set to begin conclave on May 7 to elect the next pope.
While some Trump supporters insisted that the president was ‘joking’ others did not find the post funny.
“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,” the Catholic Bishops of New York State wrote in a post X. “Do not mock us.”
