Topline
President Donald Trump said he “had nothing to do with” a photo of him as the pope that was posted on his Truth Social account and the White House’s official X account last Friday, and suggested it shouldn’t diminish the substance of official accounts—despite the photo drawing criticism from Catholic groups.
President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce that the 2027 NFL Draft will be held on … More
Key Facts
“I had nothing to do with it, somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the pope, and they put it out on the internet,” Trump said while answering questions from the press on Monday, adding: “I have no idea where it came from, maybe it was AI.”
Trump said he knew nothing about it and “just saw it last evening,” though it was posted by his personal Truth Social account on Friday night.
Trump also pushed back on the notion that Catholics were upset about the photo, saying: “They can’t take a joke. You don’t mean the Catholics, you mean the fake news media … the Catholics loved it.”
The image depicted Trump in a white clerical coat and a bishop’s hat, and was posted without a caption on both the White House and Trump accounts nearly a week after Trump attended the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome.
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Crucial Quote
“My wife thought it was cute,” Trump said of the image of him as the pope. “She said, ‘Isn’t that nice?’”
What Was The Response To The Image Of Trump As Pope?
The image being posted to Trump and the White House’s accounts drew almost immediate criticism. The NYS Catholic Conference, which represents Catholic bishops in the state of New York, said in a post on X, “There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.” Cardinal Timothy Dolan from New York—one of Trump’s friends who many think the president endorsed to be the next pope—said he hoped Trump “didn’t have anything to do with” the picture and said “it wasn’t good.” Cardinal Joseph Tobin, who is the top contender from America to be the next pope, according to the National Catholic Reporter, declined to comment on it in Rome when asked about the image, simply saying: “It’s not worth commenting on.” Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest in New York and outspoken voice in the church’s liberal wing, said on X that even though he found it “deeply offensive, I will presume that Mr. Trump meant this light-heartedly.” Martin also asked people to “imagine the incandescent outrage, the swift condemnation, and the individual and joint protests from the US bishops if this had been done by Joe Biden or Barack Obama.”
What Did The Vatican Say About The Photo?
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni declined to comment on the image, the Associated Press reported.
Who Has Defended Trump Posting The Image?
When asked on X if he was “fine with this disrespect and mocking of the Holy Father,” Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, responded by saying: “I’m fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen.” When asked about the image, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, “Trump flew to Italy to pay his respects for Pope Francis and attend his funeral, and he has been a staunch champion for Catholics and religious liberty.”
Key Background
Pope Francis died of a stroke on April 21, the day after Easter, following a slew of respiratory issues. Trump attended the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26—and made headlines for wearing a navy blue suit while most other world leaders donned black—and spoke at the White House Easter Egg Roll about the pope passing, saying Francis was “a very good man who loved, loved the world, and he especially loved people that were having a hard time, and that’s good with me.” Days after the pope—who was 88 and had been battling health issues—passed, Trump joked to reporters that he would “like to be pope,” saying that would “be my number one choice” for Francis’ successor.
Further Reading
Trump Posts AI Photo Of Himself As The Pope After Joking He Would Like To Be The Next Pontiff (Forbes)
Trump draws criticism with AI image of himself as the pope ahead of the papal conclave (Associated Press)
