Trump Sparks Outrage with AI-Generated Pope Image Amid Vatican Transition

President Donald Trump has ignited controversy by posting an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope on his Truth Social platform, just days after attending Pope Francis's funeral. The image, depicting Trump in papal regalia, was also shared by the official White House social media accounts.
This act has drawn sharp criticism from Catholic leaders and political figures, who view it as disrespectful during a solemn period for the Catholic Church. The Vatican has declined to comment, but the New York State Catholic Conference accused Trump of mocking the papal transition.
Trump had previously joked about wanting to become pope, stating it would be his "number one choice," and mentioned Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York as a potential successor.
The incident has sparked a broader debate on the use of AI-generated images by public figures and the boundaries of satire in political discourse.