Trump criticized for sharing AI-generated photo of himself as the Pope

President Trump has drew the ire of many Catholics after posting an AI-generated photo of himself as the Pope.

The picture was shared by the official White House social media account only a few weeks after Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025 and while Catholics mourn the pontiff.

The image posted by Trump on Friday May 4, 2025 features him wearing a white cassock and pointed mitre, traditionally worn by a bishop. He wears a large cross around his neck.

The New York State Catholic Conference, which represents bishops in New York, took to Twitter (now known as "X") to criticize the image.

"There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr President," the group wrote.

While President Trump seems to mock the papal office, his administration is also cutting funding to several Catholic charities.

Catholic agencies across the country were forced to lay off staff and shut down programs due to these funding cuts.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) even sued the administration over the funding freeze and had to lay off staff due to the shortfall.

The administration also implemented cuts to foreign aid programs, which affected organizations like Catholic Relief Services (CRS), who faced significant budget reductions and had to cut staff and programs. 

These cuts and openly mocking the papacy is antithetical to the President's public embrace of Christianity. On February 7th, President Trump signed an Executive Order formally re-establishing a White House office for faith-based initiatives. Moreover, just a few weeks ago, the President continued the White House's Easter celebration, inviting prayer and Christian hymns.

But this is not the first time Trump has triggered controversy with AI-generated imagery.

Earlier in his new presidency, he faced backlash after posting an image of war-ravaged Gaza as a vacation resort featuring a golden statue of himself.

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Watch as Bishop TD Jakes announce that he is stepping down as leader of The Potter's House (click below).