US President Donald Trump has stirred controversy by sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope on his Truth Social platform.
The image, posted on May 2, 2025, depicts Trump in traditional papal attire—white robes, a gold crucifix pendant, and a mitre hat—while making a blessing gesture.
This post comes just days before the Vatican's conclave is set to begin on May 7 to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
Earlier this week, Trump joked to reporters that he would like to be the next pope, stating, "I'd like to be pope, that would be my number one choice."
He also mentioned Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, as a potential successor, describing him as "very good." The AI-generated image was shared not only by Trump but also by the White House on social media platforms, attracting millions of views and sparking widespread discussion.
The image was created using Midjourney, an AI tool known for generating hyper-realistic images. Midjourney has faced scrutiny over the misuse of its technology to create deepfakes, including images of Trump and Pope Francis in various contexts.
In response to concerns about the spread of misleading content, Midjourney has ended its free trial access, citing "extraordinary demand and abuse" of the platform .
The AI-generated pope image has elicited a range of reactions online. Some users found it humorous, with comments like "Funniest man alive" and "Make Vatican Great Again."
Others criticized the post as disrespectful, especially given the recent death of Pope Francis, with one user calling it "disgusting and entirely offensive".
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