President Donald Trump has posted an AI-generated image of himself in papal regalia, 11 days after Pope Francis’ death.
The image, posted on Truth Social, shows Trump dressed in white wearing a papal hat with a large crucifix hanging around his neck.
Trump had previously joked about being the pontiff when asked who he would like to succeed Pope Francis.
He said that he did not have a preference but that there was a cardinal in New York who was “very good,” likely referring to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York.
The conclave to select a new pontiff is now underway after Pope Francis’ death.
The post has been met with bemusement and criticism, with many describing it as disrespectful.
Some social media users have pleaded for the post to be taken down, while others find it disrespectful to the Catholic community worldwide.
Trump was also criticized for his appearance at Pope Francis’ funeral and his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with many describing his meeting with the Ukrainian President to discuss the ongoing war at the Pope’s Funeral as wholly “inappropriate”.
