Trump defends the viral AI picture of him as the pope, stating it was meant to be fun and not taken seriously.
President Donald Trump recently sparked controversy with an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope.
He shared the picture on social media, claiming it was meant as a joke.
The image shows him in traditional papal attire, including a mitre and a white cassock, just as the College of Cardinals prepares to elect a new pope.
President Trump defends viral AI image depicting him as Pope claiming it’s simply a ‘joke’
Trump posted the image on Friday, shortly after the death of Pope Francis.
The picture quickly went viral, but it also drew criticism from some members of the Catholic community.
Many found it disrespectful, leading to backlash from various religious figures.
In response to the outrage, Trump stated, “They can’t take a joke.”
He claimed that the outrage was mainly coming from the “fake news media,” not from actual Catholics.
Trump insisted that many Catholics found the joke funny and appreciated the humor.
“The AI-generated image was a “joke” and that you “have to have a little fun.”
In the Oval Office, Trump defended the image, saying it was all in good fun.
He mentioned that he had nothing to do with the creation of the picture, claiming someone else made it and shared it online.
“Somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the pope, and they put it out on the internet. That’s not me that did it. I have no idea where it came from,” he claimed.
The president also mentioned that his wife, Melania Trump, thought the image was “cute.”
He joked about the challenges of being pope, pointing out that popes are traditionally not married, which would complicate his ability to take on such a role.
Reactions from Catholic leaders
Despite Trump’s claims, some Catholic leaders were not amused.
Bishop Robert Barron, a prominent figure in the Church, said the image was a “bad joke” that did not sit well with many Catholics.
He expressed disappointment and wished Trump had not shared the image.
“I think it was a bad joke that obviously landed very poorly and was seen as offensive by a lot of Catholics, and I wish he hadn’t done it.”
Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York and a friend of Trump, also weighed in on the situation.
He stated, “I hope he didn’t have anything to do with that. It wasn’t good.”
Trump humorously expressed a desire to be pope.
In a light-hearted moment, Trump jokingly stated that he would “love to be pope.”
When asked about his preference for who should fill the position, he expressed that being pope would be his top choice.
Vice President JD Vance also joined in on the humor, suggesting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is Catholic, would be a good candidate for the papal position.
Both men appeared to take the topic lightly, further emphasizing the humorous nature of the original image.
The papal conclave and its importance
As the controversy unfolded, the papal conclave was set to begin.
The conclave is a significant event in the Catholic Church, where cardinals gather to elect a new pope. This process is typically shrouded in secrecy and tradition.
The recent passing of Pope Francis has made this conclave particularly important, as the Church looks to choose a new leader.
Social media reactions
One user said: I am a proud Catholic girl, and President Trump cosplaying as Pope is hilarious! Trump meant no disrespect!
The second user wrote: Why wouldn’t he make fun and place it in good light of him being pope?
We know it’s not going to happen but we can chuckle at how funny AI imagery is, along with how many chains it yanks for those on the left.
The third user said: I am Catholic and I thought it was funny! People need to have a sense of humor.
The fourth user commented: Some places you just don’t go. The Pope just died, people are mourning and waiting for a new Pope to be elevated. Extremely poor taste. Nothing to poke fun at.
Sorry DT and this is coming from a fan. Would you have done the same if the Grand Rebbe died?
Another user added: Very disrespectful. Another reason for impeachment. Al Green you need to add this to your Save America Agenda.