President Donald Trump has ignited controversy by sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope on his Truth Social platform, just days before the Catholic Church’s conclave to elect a new pontiff.
A Controversial Post Amid Mourning
The image, depicting Trump in white papal robes and mitre, was posted shortly after Pope Francis’ funeral, which Trump attended in Rome. The timing of the post, during the Novemdiales mourning period, has been criticized as insensitive.
The New York State Catholic Conference condemned the image, stating,
“There is nothing clever or funny about this image,”
and urged,
“Do not mock us.”
Previous AI-Generated Posts
This is not the first time Trump has shared AI-generated images. In February, he posted an image of himself depicted as a king, following the administration’s move to eliminate New York City’s congestion pricing program.
Reactions and Implications
The AI-generated Pope image has drawn mixed reactions. Critics, including former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele, labeled the post as,
“narcissistic and deeply offensive.”
Supporters defended the post as a joke, while others expressed concern over the use of AI-generated images in political discourse. The Vatican has declined to comment on the matter.
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