On Friday night, US President Donald Trump stirred controversy by posting an AI-edited image of himself dressed as the Pope on Truth Social. The post came just days after Trump jokingly remarked that he would like to be the Pope, fueling both amusement and criticism online.

The White House added to the conversation by resharing the image. This comes in the wake of Pope Francis’ passing last month. The 88-year-old Pontiff suffered a stroke and heart failure, as confirmed by Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli in the official death certificate. Trump was among several world leaders who attended the Pope’s funeral.

The AI-generated image quickly drew backlash from social media users, many of whom accused Trump of disrespecting the Church and mocking the death of Pope Francis. Critics voiced their outrage through sharp comments online.

One commenter wrote, “This insults both the Church and God. Trump is acting like the antichrist.” Another described the post as “offensive and disgusting,” while a third person labeled it “extremely narcissistic” and questioned the judgment of Trump’s supporters. One user, deeply offended, stated, “Mocking Catholic traditions is disgraceful. Trump and his followers represent disrespect and ignorance.”

During a recent press interaction, Trump was asked about his thoughts on who should succeed Pope Francis. With his characteristic humor, the 78-year-old President replied, “I’d like to be Pope. That would be my first choice.” However, he went on to say, “I don’t have a specific preference, but there’s a strong cardinal from New York who might be a great choice. Let’s see what happens.”

The AI image and Trump’s remarks have sparked widespread discussion about the intersection of politics, religion, and technology, leaving many to question the appropriateness of such a post during a sensitive period for Catholics worldwide.