Trump criticised after posting AI image of himself as Pope

Recently, President Donald Trump has come under fire from some members of the Catholic community after he posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the Pope. In this image, Trump is depicted wearing a traditional white cassock and a pointed mitre, which is a type of hat that bishops wear. He is also shown with a large cross around his neck and a serious expression on his face, with his finger raised as if making a point. This post was shared through the official social media accounts of the White House, and it has sparked controversy, especially since it comes at a time when many Catholics are mourning the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21. The Catholic community is currently preparing to select a new Pope, making the timing of Trump's post particularly sensitive. The New York State Catholic Conference, which represents bishops in New York, publicly criticized Trump, accusing him of mocking their faith. They expressed their discontent on social media, stating, 'There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis, and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us. ' This incident follows a recent joke made by Trump, where he said to the media, 'I’d like to be Pope. ' This is not the first time a president has faced backlash for comments related to the Catholic Church. Former President Joe Biden, who is also a Catholic, faced criticism last year when he made the sign of the cross at a rally supporting abortion rights in Florida. When asked about Trump's post, Matteo Bruni, a spokesperson for the Vatican, chose not to comment during a press briefing with journalists on Saturday. The Vatican is preparing for a conclave that will begin on Wednesday to select a successor to Pope Francis. The image shared by Trump shows him in a white cassock and mitre, looking serious with a cross around his neck. The New York State Catholic Conference took to social media to express their disapproval of the picture, stating, 'There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis, and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.