Overview

• President Trump denied involvement in creating or sharing the AI-generated image of himself as pope, which was posted on his Truth Social account and amplified by the White House X account.
• The image, posted shortly after Pope Francis’s death and ahead of the papal conclave, has drawn condemnation from Catholic leaders, including Cardinal Dolan and the New York State Catholic Conference, for being disrespectful.
• Vice President JD Vance defended the image as harmless humor, contrasting with critics like Bill Kristol, who called it a mockery of the Catholic faith.
• Trump described the image as a lighthearted joke and claimed Catholics appreciated it, though many Catholic officials and commentators expressed offense.
• The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over the use of AI media in political communication and its potential to offend religious and cultural sensitivities.