Trump Criticized for AI Image as Pope Amid Mourning

President Donald Trump sparked controversy by posting an AI-generated image of himself as pope on Truth Social, which was later shared by the White House on an official account. The post came during the Catholic Church’s nine-day mourning period for Pope Francis, just before the conclave to select his successor. The image was widely criticized by Catholic leaders and social media users for being disrespectful and in poor taste, with some calling it blasphemous and offensive to believers. Critics, including the New York State Catholic Conference and Italian politicians, accused Trump of mocking religious traditions during a solemn time. However, a minority of Trump supporters defended the post as a joke or referenced his previous respectful statements about the papacy. The incident prompted broader debate over the appropriateness of political figures using AI-generated religious imagery, especially during sensitive periods.