Donald Trump Denies Posting AI Image of Himself as Pope

Tuesday 06 May 2025 - 13:01

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected responsibility for an AI-generated image circulating online that portrays him dressed as the pope. The image, shared on his Truth Social account, shows Trump in ornate white and gold papal robes, a depiction that has sparked criticism from some Christian communities.

Speaking on Monday, Trump distanced himself from the post, stating, “I had nothing to do with it. Someone made a picture of me dressed like the Pope and put it on the internet.” He speculated that artificial intelligence may have been involved in creating the image.

When informed that the image had offended certain Catholic viewers, Trump responded dismissively, saying, “Oh, they can’t take a joke.” He claimed he only became aware of the image on Sunday, despite it being posted on his account on Friday and later shared by the official White House X account.

Trump added that his wife, Melania Trump, found the image amusing, saying she thought “it was cute.” He also noted that, as someone who was not baptized in the Catholic Church, he is not eligible to be pope nor to participate in a papal conclave.

The image surfaced shortly before a significant event in the Catholic Church: the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis. According to tradition, 133 cardinals under the age of 80 will convene in the Sistine Chapel to begin the centuries-old voting process.