Core Points - Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself in papal attire shortly after the death of Pope Francis, which has drawn significant criticism but also garnered over 100,000 likes across social media platforms [1][5][6] Group 1: Social Media Reaction - The image was shared on Trump's Truth Social account and subsequently on White House X and Instagram, receiving over 58,000 likes on Instagram and over 78,000 likes on X [5][6] - User comments on social media were predominantly negative, with many describing the image as "disgusting," "disturbing," and "offensive" [5][6] Group 2: Context of the Post - The post came just days after Trump jokingly expressed a desire to be the next pope during a press interaction [3][7] - The conclave to select a new pope is scheduled to begin on May 7, following Pope Francis's death due to a stroke and heart failure at the age of 88 [7] Group 3: Trump's Religious Background - Trump's religious views have been a topic of speculation; he was raised as a Presbyterian but later identified as a non-denominational Christian [10][11] - Despite questions regarding the depth of his faith, Trump has successfully appealed to conservative Christians and evangelicals, which has played a role in his electoral success [11]
Trump posts AI image of himself as pope on Truth Social