Donald Trump has posted an AI-generated picture of himself wearing papal regalia on his Reality Social platform – simply 11 days after the loss of life of Pope Francis.
Uploaded onto his account early on Saturday morning, it exhibits the US president with a big gold cross on a sequence round his neck.
From there, it was printed, with out remark or clarification, on the White Home X and Instagram accounts and, although it drew fierce criticism, it was appreciated greater than 100,000 occasions.
It comes just some days after the world chief joked that he’d wish to be the pontiff.
Final week, he was requested by reporters on the White Home garden who he wish to succeed Francis and he replied: “I would wish to be Pope. That might be my primary alternative.”
He went on to say that he didn’t have a choice, however there was a cardinal in New York who was “superb”.
‘I would wish to be pope’
Mr Trump was shortly accused of mocking Pope Francis’s loss of life, however, by midday, UK time, the submit had been appreciated greater than 58,000 occasions on Instagram.
Person feedback, nevertheless, had been principally adverse, with one saying that the picture “is not humorous. It isn’t satire. And it isn’t innocent”.
One other merely referred to as it “disgusting”, whereas different reactions included “disturbing”, “disrespectful” and “offensive”.
On X, the place the image was appreciated greater than 78,000 occasions, a person commented that Mr Trump was “making a mockery of the pious”, whereas one other judged it “not a smart determination”.
The conclave to select a new pontiff will start on 7 Might after the loss of life of Francis, the chief of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Argentinian, who grew to become pope in 2013, died on Easter Monday on the age of 88 because of a stroke and coronary heart failure.
Final weekend, the president was criticised for carrying a non-traditional blue swimsuit for Francis’s Vatican funeral and chewing gum throughout the ceremony.
Nevertheless, his assembly in St Peter’s Basilica with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier than the out of doors mass received below method was dubbed “Pope Francis’s miracle” by members of the clergy.
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in St Peter’s Basilica. Pic: Ukrainian Presidential Press Workplace
Learn extra:
Trump birthday parade planned
Who could be the next pope?
Mr Trump’s personal non secular views have lengthy been a matter of hypothesis.
He was raised as a Presbyterian and publicly recognized with it for many of his grownup life, earlier than, in October 2020, he renounced it and stated he now thought-about himself a non-denominational Christian.
Many have questioned the depth of his religion, however that hasn’t stopped him interesting to conservative Christians and the Christian proper, significantly evangelicals, a few of whom have helped him get elected twice.
Hearken to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim each Wednesday
Earlier this 12 months, Mr Trump shared a bizarre AI-generated video on his Reality Social platform showcasing what gave the impression to be a imaginative and prescient of Gaza below his proposed plan.
The footage confirmed the world remodeled right into a Center Japanese paradise with unique seashores, Dubai-style skyscrapers, luxurious yachts and folks partying – and featured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Elon Musk.
