Coverage dated May 2, 2025 to May 5, 2025

Trump draws criticism with AI image of himself as pope ahead of papal conclave

Headline from 6ABC Philadelphia, on the newest of 2 developments

President Donald Trump has posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as the pope.

6ABC Philadelphia's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

May 3, 2025
Trump draws criticism with AI image of himself as the pope ahead of the papal conclave
Headline from ABC 7 San Francisco ·
May 4, 2025Newest
Trump draws criticism with AI image of himself as pope ahead of papal conclave
Headline from 6ABC Philadelphia ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

79 articles, oldest first.

Breitbart News
PHOTO: President Trump Triggers Leftists with Image of Himself as Pope (opens Breitbart News)
Published May 2, 2025
Breitbart News's feed description
President Donald Trump on Friday shared an AI image of himself dressed as the pope and received lots of reactions.
NBC10 Philadelphia
Trump draws criticism with AI image of himself as the pope ahead of the papal conclave (opens NBC10 Philadelphia)
Published May 2, 2025
NBC10 Philadelphia's feed description
President Donald Trump has posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as pope.
Newsweek
Trump posting apparent AI photo of himself as the pope takes off online (opens Newsweek)
Published May 2, 2025
Newsweek's feed description
The president posted the photo Friday night with no caption and it has since sparked praise and backlash.
Forbes
Pope Donald The First? White House Shared AI-Generated Image Of Trump As Pope (opens Forbes)
Published May 2, 2025
Forbes's feed description
Last week President Trump joked that he would like to be considered to head the Catholic Church.
Time
Trump Posts AI-Generated Image of Himself as Pope (opens Time)
Published May 2, 2025
Time's feed description
Trump’s post comes just days after he teased he would choose himself to succeed Pope Francis.
Latin Times
Trump and White House Slammed for Sharing AI-Generated Image of Trump as Pope: 'A Complete Mockery' (opens Latin Times)
Published May 2, 2025
Latin Times's feed description
President Donald Trump and the White House shared an AI-generated image of Trump as pope on Saturday morning. The move drew sharp criticism online, with one user referring to it as a "complete
KTVU San Francisco
Trump's AI image of himself as pope draws criticism ahead of conclave (opens KTVU San Francisco)
Published May 2, 2025
KTVU San Francisco's feed description
President Donald Trump’s latest social media stunt – an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope – sparked immediate backlash.
Forbes
Trump Posts AI Photo Of Himself As The Pope After Joking He Would Like To Be The Next Pontiff (opens Forbes)
Published May 2, 2025
Forbes's feed description
Trump recently joked he would like to be the pope as the Vatican prepares to vote for the next pontiff following Pope Francis’ death last month.
PBS NewsHour
AI-generated image of Trump as the pope draws criticism ahead of papal conclave (opens PBS NewsHour)
Published May 2, 2025
PBS NewsHour's feed description
President Donald Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as pope as the mourning of Pope Francis continues and just days before the conclave to elect his successor is set to begin.
Variety
Trump Posts AI-Generated Image of Himself Dressed as the Pope (opens Variety)
Published May 2, 2025
Variety's feed description
Trump posted an image depicting himself as pope, with the Vatican's conclave to select the next leader of the Catholic Church to begin May 7.
WSVN Miami
Trump draws criticism with AI image of himself as the pope ahead of the papal conclave - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports (opens WSVN Miami)
Published May 2, 2025
WSVN Miami's feed description
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as pope as the mourning of Pope Francis continues and just days before the
Fox News
Trump posts AI image of himself as Pope amid Vatican's search for new pontiff (opens Fox News)
Published May 2, 2025
Fox News's feed description
Trump posts AI-generated image of himself as pope on Truth Social, sparking viral reactions following his joke about wanting the position after attending Pope Francis's death.
Rolling Stone
Trump Is Fantasizing About Becoming the Next Pope (opens Rolling Stone)
Published May 2, 2025
Rolling Stone's feed description
Trump, who was at odds with the late Pope Francis, shared an AI-generated image of himself as pope.
Wyoming Public Media
Catholic leaders criticize Trump for posting apparent AI photo of himself as the pope (opens Wyoming Public Media)
Published May 3, 2025
Wyoming Public Media's feed description
When asked about the image, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York who is friendly with Trump, said "it wasn't good" and that he hoped Trump had nothing to do with it.
Al Jazeera
AI-generated image of Trump as pope is the latest White House controversy (opens Al Jazeera)
Published May 3, 2025
Al Jazeera's feed description
US President Donald Trump is facing backlash for publishing an AI-generated image of himself as the pope.
Deadline
New York Catholic Bishops Denounce Trump’s AI Image As Pope: “Do Not Mock Us” (opens Deadline)
Published May 3, 2025
Deadline's feed description
New York's Catholic leaders have denounced President Donald Trump for his artificial intelligence-generated image of himself as pope.
America Magazine
‘God is not mocked’: US Catholic leaders criticize Trump’s AI pope meme (opens America Magazine)
Published May 3, 2025
America Magazine's feed description
“He owes an apology,” Bishop Thomas Paprocki said after President Trump posted an image that appeared to be created by A.I. depicting himself as pope.
Latin Times
Catholic Leaders Demand Trump Apologize for AI Pope Image: 'Deeply Offensive' (opens Latin Times)
Published May 3, 2025
Latin Times's feed description
Catholic leaders across the United States are condemning an AI-generated image President Donald Trump shared of himself dressed as pope.
KVIA El Paso
Trump posts AI image of himself as pope, leaving Catholics offended and unamused as conclave nears (opens KVIA El Paso)
Published May 3, 2025
KVIA El Paso's feed description
By Sophie Tanno, Christopher Lamb and Antonia Mortensen, CNN (CNN) — US President Donald Trump posted an AI image of himself as the pope, prompting accusations of poor taste in the Roman Catholic community just days before the conclave to elect Pope Francis’s successor is due to begin.
The Boston Globe
Trump draws criticism with AI image of himself as pope (opens The Boston Globe)
Published May 3, 2025
The Boston Globe's feed description
An image of President Trump as the pope is eliciting rebukes as the Catholic Church remains in mourning after the death of Francis and prepares to select the next pontiff.
NBC News
Catholics criticize Trump after he posts an AI-generated image depicting himself as the pope (opens NBC News)
Published May 3, 2025
NBC News's feed description
An AI-generated image depicting Trump as pope didn't sit well with a group of Catholics, who took to social media over the weekend to condemn the portrayal.
The Hill
New York cardinal takes Trump to task over AI pope image: ‘Wasn’t good’ (opens The Hill)
Published May 3, 2025
The Hill's feed description
New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan disapproved of President Trump’s Truth Social post containing an AI image of himself as a pontiff. It was posted not two weeks after the death of Pope Francis and just days before cardinals gather at the Vatican to elect a new Catholic leader.
RedState
Donald Trump Sets Internet on Fire As He Posts AI Picture of Himself As Pope (opens RedState)
Published May 3, 2025
WMUR
Trump draws criticism with AI image of himself as the pope (opens WMUR)
Published May 3, 2025
WMUR's feed description
The image, shared Friday night on Trump's Truth Social site and later reposted by the White House on its official X account, raised eyebrows on social media and at the Vatican.
New York Post
Cardinal Dolan doesn’t like AI image of Trump as pope: ‘I hope he didn’t have anything to do with that’ (opens New York Post)
Published May 3, 2025
New York Post's feed description
New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan on Sunday said the now-viral AI image of President Trump as pope was god-awful.

Showing the first 25 of 41 headlines. ·

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.