President Donald Trump stirred a new wave of controversy this week after joking that he’d like to be the next pope — and then sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
When asked by reporters on Tuesday who he would like to see become the next pontiff following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, Trump quipped, “I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice.”
The comment, delivered with his characteristic flair for provocation, might have faded as just another Trumpism.
But on Saturday, the president amplified the moment by posting a digitally altered image of himself in papal vestments — complete with a white cassock and pectoral cross — on Truth Social, Instagram, and X.
The White House reposted it on its official social accounts, though the image’s origin remains unclear.
The post ignited swift backlash, particularly among Catholic leaders and faithful still grieving the loss of Pope Francis. Dennis Poust, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, called the post “shocking” and “disrespectful,” especially given American history with anti-Catholic sentiment.
“It’s never appropriate to ridicule or mock the papacy,” Poust said. “Though the president may not have intended to insult the Catholic Church, it does cause offense.”
Some critics went further. Michael Steele, former chair of the Republican National Committee, condemned the timing, calling Trump’s post a sign that he is “unserious and incapable.”
On Truth Social, some users branded the image sacrilegious, while others accused it of spreading misinformation.
Still, not all responses were negative.
Some conservative allies rallied around the spectacle. “I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope,” wrote Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on X. “Watching for white smoke … Trump MMXXVIII!”
The Vatican, which is preparing for the papal conclave set to begin Wednesday, declined to comment on the president’s social media activity.
This isn’t the first time Trump has used AI-generated media to provoke reactions. In February, he posted a video depicting Gaza as a luxury resort branded with his name, prompting outrage from Palestinian officials.
Despite the buzz, Trump later clarified that he had no strong preference for the next pope — though he mentioned Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York as a personal favorite. Dolan, however, is not among the leading contenders for the role.
As the conclave begins, speculation about Pope Francis’ successor continues — and so does the conversation about whether Trump’s latest joke crossed a sacred line.
– More Coverage of the Trump Administration on FingerLakes1.com
This content is brought to you by the FingerLakes1.com Team. Support our mission by visiting www.patreon.com/fl1 or learn how you send us your local content here.