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Trump Social Media Post Draws A Lot of Reaction
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Trump Social Media Post Draws A Lot of Reaction

Just days before the Catholic Church gathers in solemnity to elect a new pope, former President Donald Trump has injected a blast of political theater into the Vatican’s most sacred tradition — and not with subtlety.

On Friday night, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed as pope on Truth Social. Wearing the white cassock and pointed miter traditionally reserved for the Bishop of Rome, the image made no attempt at restraint — and drew immediate and international backlash.

To Trump's supporters, it was a joke — perhaps in poor taste, but hardly new for a man who has used memes, AI, and spectacle as political currency for nearly a decade. But to millions of Catholics — especially those still mourning the April 21 death of Pope Francis — the image was seen not as satire, but sacrilege.

The backlash came quickly.

The New York State Catholic Conference, representing the state’s bishops, issued a sharp rebuke:

“There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis.”

Even Italian officials, including former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, condemned the post as a “shameful” insult to believers and institutions alike. La Repubblica, one of Italy’s major dailies, blasted the stunt as evidence of “pathological megalomania.” The Vatican, still in its nine-day mourning period, declined to comment officially.

The post came at a particularly delicate time: Catholic cardinals are set to begin the conclave to choose Pope Francis’ successor. The image — and Trump’s open jokes about wanting to be pope — seemed to mock the process itself.

Even more eyebrow-raising was the reposting of the image by the official White House X account — blurring the lines between Trump’s personal trolling and executive messaging. While Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump’s actions by emphasizing his presence at Pope Francis’ funeral and his support for religious liberty, the AI image stood in stark contrast to the reverent tone expected during a papal transition.

Trump’s AI post didn’t just rattle religious sensibilities — it also demonstrated his uncanny ability to dominate news cycles. Once again, he drew global attention without saying a word, using digital manipulation to plant himself squarely in the center of a historic religious moment. And, as always, he had backup.

Senator Lindsey Graham chimed in with characteristic tongue-in-cheek support, encouraging the conclave to “keep an open mind.” JD Vance and others joined in the meme-making, naming potential papal candidates from Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York — the latter of whom Trump publicly praised, possibly to Dolan’s detriment.

But for all the humor, the implications are serious. The conclave is designed to be secretive and shielded from outside influence — especially political interference. Trump’s overt insertions, however playful, may have crossed the threshold from irreverent to inappropriate.

Written by Arthur Higgens - May 5, 2025