"Catholics loved it": Trump rejects criticism of his pope portrait

Donald Trump's AI-generated image of himself in papal garb has drawn the ire of Catholic church officials. When confronted by journalists, the US president defends himself and denies any responsibility.

US President Donald Trump has rejected criticism of the controversial photo of himself in papal garb. The Republican said it was merely a joke, referring to the image, apparently generated by artificial intelligence (AI), that was posted on his profile on the Truth Social network on Friday. It was also shared on the official White House account on X – a fact that Trump has now been asked about.

"Fake news" simply doesn't understand humor, Trump said when asked by a reporter at the White House. "The Catholics loved it," he added. Asked whether the AI ​​image on the official White House account damaged the channel's credibility, Trump dismissed the question: "Take it easy. (...) Someone was joking. You have to have a little fun sometimes, right?"

Over the weekend, US Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Illinois accused Trump of using the image to mock God, the Catholic Church, and the papacy and demanded an apology. The New York State Catholic Conference was also less than pleased with the AI-generated image of Trump. "There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President," the group of bishops from the US state of New York wrote on X. In the image, the US president wears the typical white cassock of the head of the Catholic Church, a long gold chain with a cross, and a magnificently decorated miter as a headdress.

Trump now claimed he had nothing to do with the creation of the image. "That wasn't me," he said. "I have no idea where it came from." He himself had only seen it yesterday evening (local time). His wife Melania even found the image "sweet," Trump stated. If he were indeed pope, however, he couldn't be married: "As far as I know, popes aren't into marriage," Trump said. Following the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church is about to elect a new leader. The conclave of eligible cardinals begins on Wednesday.