May 3, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump has ignited controversy by sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed in papal attire on Truth Social, just days after jokingly naming himself as his own choice for the new Pope. The post follows the recent death of Pope Francis, who passed away last month at the age of 88 due to a stroke and heart failure.
Trump, who returned to office in January 2025, attended the Pope’s funeral alongside other world leaders. However, his latest post — showing him in white papal robes — has drawn sharp criticism from religious communities and social media users alike.
“This is disrespectful to the Church and God himself… he is literally the antichrist,” one user commented. Others condemned the post as “offensive,” “narcissistic,” and “mocking the sacred process of electing a new pope.”
Critics accused Trump of belittling Catholic traditions and using religious symbolism to elevate his image. One comment read, “How dare you mock the process we Catholics go through to pick a new Pope. This isn’t leadership, it’s provocation.”
The White House has not issued a formal response to the backlash. Meanwhile, Vatican officials have declined to comment.
As President Trump begins his second non-consecutive term, his social media activity continues to stir political and cultural controversy, underscoring the tensions between his brash style and the expectations of global diplomacy.
