By Mulembe Times Staff
05 May 2025
Mulembe times.
Donald Trump shares an AI-generated image of himself as pope and jokes about leading the Catholic Church.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is once again at the center of controversy after posting a digitally altered image of himself dressed as the pope on his Truth Social platform. The image, believed to be AI-generated, shows Trump in full papal regalia — white robes, a gold crucifix pendant, and a tall miter hat — pointing his finger toward the sky.
The post comes just days before the Catholic Church is set to hold a conclave on May 7 to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21. While many saw the image as classic Trump showmanship, others viewed it as disrespectful to the Catholic faith, particularly during such a solemn transition period for the Church.
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump jokingly told reporters earlier in the week:
“I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice.”
Asked who he would prefer as the next pontiff, Trump was vague but made a clear reference to New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, saying,
“There’s a cardinal in New York who’s very good.”
Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, is known for his staunch opposition to abortion, aligning with Trump’s political base on a key moral issue. Dolan has frequently spoken out against the expansion of abortion rights and has been a vocal critic of U.S. policies he sees as undermining the sanctity of life.
Trump’s praise for Dolan appears strategic, given his ongoing efforts to consolidate support among conservative Catholics, who played a significant role in his previous election victories. In the November elections, exit polls indicated that about 60 percent of Catholic voters supported Trump, despite past tensions between him and Pope Francis.
The relationship between Trump and the late pope was far from smooth. In 2016, during Trump’s first campaign for the presidency, Pope Francis made headlines when he indirectly criticized Trump’s immigration policies.
“A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian,” Francis said in reference to Trump’s infamous plan to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Despite this, Trump attended Pope Francis’ funeral last week, marking his first foreign visit since returning to power. The visit was widely interpreted as an attempt to reset relations with the Vatican and appeal to Catholic voters ahead of the next U.S. presidential race.
Critics argue that Trump’s recent post and comments trivialize a deeply spiritual and sensitive process. “It’s inappropriate for a political figure to insert themselves, even jokingly, into the papal selection,” said Dr. Ellen Harding, a religious studies scholar at Georgetown University. “This is a time of mourning and reflection for Catholics around the world.”
Supporters, however, saw the move as typical Trump — bold, media-savvy, and unapologetically provocative. “He knows how to dominate a news cycle,” said one Republican strategist. “Even in religious matters, he knows what plays.”
The incident also sheds light on the broader intersection of religion, politics, and social media in the modern era. The use of AI-generated images by political figures is a growing concern, especially when used to blur the line between satire and misinformation.
As cardinals prepare to gather in the Sistine Chapel for the upcoming conclave, the world watches not just for the next leader of the Catholic Church, but also for how global figures like Trump continue to shape — or distort — the narrative.
One thing is clear: with Trump, no topic — not even the papacy — is off limits.
