Trump Administration Live Updates: President Denies Posting AI-Generated Image of Himself as Pope
Washington, D.C., May 6, 2025 — President Donald Trump has denied responsibility for posting an artificial intelligence-generated image depicting himself as the pope, an action that sparked widespread criticism from Catholic leaders and commentators. The image, which surfaced on Trump’s Truth Social platform and was later reposted by the official White House X account on Friday, May 2, has drawn accusations of insensitivity, particularly as the Catholic Church mourns the death of Pope Francis and prepares for a papal conclave to elect his successor.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump distanced himself from the controversy, stating, “I had nothing to do with it. Somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the pope, and they put it out on the internet. That’s not me that did it. I have no idea where it came from — maybe it was AI.” He downplayed the backlash, suggesting that critics “can’t take a joke” and claiming, “The Catholics loved it.” Trump also noted that his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, found the image “cute.”
The image, showing Trump in a white cassock, mitre, and gold crucifix necklace, was shared less than a week after the president attended Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome on April 26. The timing, coinciding with the Catholic Church’s nine-day mourning period known as Novemdiales, amplified the controversy. The conclave to select the next pontiff is set to begin on May 7, with 133 cardinals gathering in Vatican City.
Catholic leaders expressed dismay over the post. The New York State Catholic Conference, representing the state’s bishops, condemned the image as disrespectful, stating on X, “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.” Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, described the image as a “brutta figura” (bad impression) while attending a Mass in Rome, adding, “I hope he didn’t have anything to do with it.”
The controversy also drew international attention. Italy’s left-leaning newspaper La Repubblica labeled the post “infantile” and accused Trump of “pathological megalomania.” Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi criticized the image on X, writing, “This is an image that offends believers, insults institutions and shows that the leader of the right-wing world enjoys clowning around.” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni declined to comment during a briefing on Saturday.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the president, stating, “President Trump flew to Italy to pay his respects for Pope Francis and attend his funeral, and he has been a staunch champion for Catholics and religious liberty.” Some Trump allies, including Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, dismissed the criticism as overblown. Vance posted on X, “As a general rule, I’m fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen.”
The incident is not the first time the Trump administration has faced backlash over AI-generated imagery. In February, Trump and the White House shared an image of the president as a king after ending New York City’s congestion pricing program, prompting similar debates about appropriateness.
The controversy comes amid a busy period for the Trump administration, with the president also addressing economic concerns and foreign policy matters. On Monday, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss ongoing tensions with Russia, a meeting some have dubbed “Pope Francis’ final miracle” for its diplomatic significance following their encounter at the late pontiff’s funeral.
As the Vatican prepares for the conclave, the image controversy underscores ongoing tensions between Trump’s provocative style and religious communities. While some supporters, like Senator Lindsey Graham, leaned into the joke—Graham posted on X about “strong momentum” for “Pope Trump”—others, including Catholic commentators, called for an apology. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, described the image as “deeply offensive” and said, “President Trump owes an apology to Catholics and all people of good will.”
The White House has not indicated whether it will remove the post or issue a formal response to the criticism. As the conclave approaches, the episode remains a point of contention, highlighting the delicate balance between political humor and respect for religious traditions.
