U.S. President Donald Trump has stirred a mix of amusement, confusion, and controversy after posting what appears to be an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope on his Truth Social platform.
The digitally altered image—which was later reshared by the White House’s official X account on Saturday—depicts Trump in elaborate papal attire: flowing white robes, a golden crucifix, and a mitre, with one finger raised skyward in a traditional gesture.
The post follows a tongue-in-cheek remark made by Trump earlier in the week, when he told reporters, “I’d like to be pope, that would be my number one choice,” in response to a question about who he supports as the next leader of the Catholic Church.
His quip came just days before the Vatican’s conclave to elect a new pope, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
Though Trump stopped short of endorsing a specific candidate, he referenced “a very good” cardinal in New York—a comment widely interpreted as a nod to Archbishop Timothy Dolan, a prominent conservative voice in the Church known for his anti-abortion stance.
Trump also attended Pope Francis’ funeral last week, marking his first official international appearance since returning to office.
Credit: X | WhiteHouse
