Images of President Trump dressed in papal garments are causing quite a stir online, causing some to label them as “sacrilegious.”
These AI-generated pictures were shared humorously on the White House X account and on various platforms, quickly racking up millions of views.
In the image, Trump wears traditional Catholic attire, complete with gold accents, as if he’s about to deliver an important sermon.
Southern Baptist Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) reacted to the image, saying, “It’s hard to believe! A picture is worth a thousand words!”
He jokingly suggested that Trump has a “strong momentum” to become the next Pope but acknowledged initial pushback on the idea, noting the significance of the upcoming Pope Conclave.
Supporters also shared their thoughts. Conservative writer Rod Dreher suggested the idea of “making Rome Borgia again” could lead to a renaissance in the church after the humble papacy of Francis.
Another commenter pondered if Trump was behind the creation of the image, remarking on its appeal to people on the left, finding it somewhat beautiful.
However, the New York State Catholic Conference criticized the image as an “attack” during a sensitive time, as many are still grieving the recent loss of Pope Francis.
They expressed their disapproval to the president, emphasizing the seriousness of the conclave that is about to begin.
Joshua Charles, a speechwriter for former Vice President Mike Pence, urged Trump to reconsider what he saw as aggressive humor.
On the other hand, Eric Sammons, editor-in-chief of Crisis Magazine and a practicing Catholic, noted he wasn’t particularly offended. He pointed out that it’s typical of Trump’s humor and one shouldn’t take it too seriously.
Concerns were raised about the implications of such imagery, especially around the upcoming election of a new pope. The conclave is set for May 7, and Cardinal Peter Parolin is currently favored to succeed Francis.
Francis passed away on April 21 after battling pneumonia, and just days before, Vice President JD Vance had visited him, recalling how ill he was but reflecting on the meaningful meeting they had.
The Holy Father had previously criticized Trump’s immigration policies, yet their encounter was described as warm, with Francis even gifting Easter eggs to the vice president’s children.
The White House has yet to respond to recent developments.
