Articles, Conclave | May 5, 2025 | by Catholics for Catholics
Monday May 5th, 2025
President Donald Trump commented about the controversial AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope, which was posted on his Truth Social account and reposted by the White House on X, sparking backlash from Catholic leaders and the faithful.
Speaking at the White House on May 5, 2025, President Trump claimed he had no role in creating the image, saying, “I had nothing to do with it,” and suggested it was meant as a joke, stating, “You have to have a little fun, don’t you?”
He dismissed criticism, particularly from the media, asserting, “The Catholics loved it,” and noted that First Lady Melania Trump found the image “cute.”
The post came shortly after Trump jokingly expressed interest in being pope and followed his attendance at Pope Francis’ funeral. Catholic figures, including the New York State Catholic Conference and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, condemned the image as disrespectful, especially with the papal conclave to select a new pope approaching.
