Donald Trump, who was raised Presbyterian and does not attend church regularly, would apparently like to crown himself the next pope.
Late Friday, the president posted an AI image of himself sitting on a gold throne wearing the traditional attire including a white cassock and a cross necklace. He has a serious expression and is holding up a finger. The White House shared Trump’s AI portrait on social media as well.
“I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice,” Trump told reporters following Pope Francis’ death, when asked who should replace him. Trump added that he actually had no preference, but that Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, who is not on the list the Vatican is considering for the next pope, is “very good.”
On Thursday, Trump named Dolan to serve on his new Religious Liberty Commission. “We’re bringing religion back to our country, and it’s a big deal,” Trump said, who last year endorsed his very own version of the bible. Devotees can purchase a “God Bless the USA Bible” with Trump’s signature for $1,000. Trump considers himself non-denominational.
Trump’s play for the Vatican all seems to be tongue in cheek, although some MAGA faithful are taking it as a moment to suck up to Trump.
“I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) posted on X. “This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility!”
“The first Pope-U.S. President combination has many upsides. Watching for white smoke…. Trump MMXXVIII!” added Graham, who is Southern Baptist.
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Perhaps unsurprisingly, Trump’s antics have drawn criticism. An Italian newspaper slammed Trump’s AI image as an expression of his “pathological megalomania.” Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said on X that the post, made during the period of mourning, “affirms how unserious and incapable he is. At 78 he remains a 10yo child, emotionally scarred and broken while desperate to prove he could be somebody. His problem: he can’t grow up to prove it.”
Republicans Against Trump called the image a “direct insult to Catholics around the world.”
According to Reuters, Matteo Bruni, a Vatican spokesman, declined to comment on the image during a press briefing.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday shortly after meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance, an adult convert to Catholicism. The first Latin American pope used his Easter blessing to call for mercy for migrants. He had often made statements that appeared to be criticisms of Vance and the Trump administration. In 2016, Francis said that anyone who supports building walls is “not Christian” during a visit to Mexico near the U.S. border.
Trump stood out for wearing a blue suit to Pope Francis’ funeral.
This is not the first time Trump used AI to boost his image on social media. For example, last August, he posted AI images of Taylor Swift fans endorsing him, including one marked “satire.” “I accept!” he wrote on Truth Social. In February, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich shared an AI image of Trump as a king with Manhattan in the background.
Also in February, Trump shared an AI video of Gaza transformed into “Trump Gaza,” a glitzy place where he and Elon Musk are shown partying as money seemingly falls out of the sky.
Cardinals are set to begin their election of the next pope this coming week.
From Rolling Stone US
