Trump faces backlash after posting AI image of himself as Pope

U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked outrage online after posting an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope, just days after joking that he would “like to be pope” during a media appearance.

The post, which followed the recent death of Pope Francis at age 88, triggered mixed reactions—while some found it amusing, many condemned it as deeply disrespectful.

According to a death certificate released last week, the pope died from a stroke and heart failure. Trump had attended the funeral alongside other world leaders.

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Social media users slammed the image, accusing Trump of mocking the late pontiff and offending Catholics. “This is disrespectful to the Church and God himself… he’s literally the antichrist,” one user wrote. Others called it “narcissistic,” “disgusting,” and “offensive.”

The backlash intensifies ongoing criticism of Trump’s rhetoric and behavior, particularly in religious contexts. His remark about wanting to be pope came in response to a question about who should succeed Pope Francis.