Trump imagining himself as next Pope. Seriously?

Donald Trump has long leaned into hyperbolic self-imagery to maintain his brand as a powerful, larger-than-life figure. Now, AI tools let him push that to new extremes — such as imagining himself as a religious leader, playing into his base’s appetite for memes, parody, and iconography that borders on the messianic.

When President Trump shared an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the Pope, it functioned less as a straightforward statement and more as a performative piece of political theatre — something he's mastered.

Trump knows such imagery will provoke outrage and headlines — especially from those who see it as sacrilegious or politically inappropriate. That’s part of the point: the controversy sustains attention, which he thrives on. “I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice,” Trump told a television reporter on 29 April, Politico reported.

This isn't the first time Trump has resorted to AI to provoke outrage. In February, he shared an AI-generated video on social media showing war-torn Gaza redeveloped into a riviera town where the American leader is seen vacationing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

As expected, the post drew severe criticism and backlash, leading many to conclude that it had been designed precisely as 'rage bait', and indicated Trump's reliance on the outlandishly surreal, whenever he needs to deflect attention from his real-life problems. Think collapsing US economy, trade wars on all fronts, antagonistic judiciary, and rapidly escalating public protests.

This time around, he has combined religious symbolism with political self-promotion, a bold move. To some, it might look like satire or a power fantasy; to others, it's disrespectful. AI adds a layer of ambiguity — was this just a meme, or a statement?

Since it’s AI-generated and clearly not real, Trump or his team can claim it’s just a joke. But it still shapes perception and fuels his image-making machine, all while sidestepping traditional media filters.

However, as expected with Trump-related posts, reactions were divided. Supporters may have viewed it as light-hearted satire or meme culture. Critics, especially those with strong religious convictions or who saw it as politically disrespectful, called it inappropriate or tone-deaf.

But this issue raises ongoing concerns about AI-generated imagery in politics and its potential to mislead, offend, or amplify personality cults. Even when meant as parody, such images can blur lines between jest and disrespect — especially in religious or sensitive contexts.

Several social media users interpreted the image as symbolic or satirical —implying Trump was "replacing" or "succeeding" the recently deceased Pope Francis, which led to confusion or offence among certain audiences.

"The President of the United States, NOT a Catholic, has just days after the death of a widely respected Pope, posted an AI created image of himself as a Pope," social media user Gaurav Sabnis wrote on X.

"This may be the most obscene thing he’s (Donald Trump) ever done on social media," another user Seth Abramson also posted on X.

However, this is a prime example of how AI-generated images can stoke confusion, offence, and misinformation, especially when posted by influential figures without context. When humour, religion, and politics collide — amplified by AI and viral media — interpretations can spiral quickly beyond intent.