DONALD Trump has posted a digitally altered image of himself dressed as the pope, days after joking that he would like to become the next pontiff.
Shared on his Truth Social platform, the image shows Trump in full papal attire, including white robes, a gold crucifix pendant and the traditional miter hat, with one finger raised toward the sky.
The AI-generated spoof comes just ahead of the May 7 conclave in the Vatican, where cardinals will gather to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21, AFP reported.
Asked earlier this week about his thoughts on the next pope, Trump quipped, “I’d like to be pope, that would be my No.1 choice.” He later added that he had no strong preference for the next pontiff but praised a New York cardinal as “very good”, likely referring to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a conservative archbishop known for his opposition to abortion.
Trump attended Pope Francis’s funeral last week—his first official overseas appearance since returning to office. The funeral drew world leaders and religious figures to St Peter’s Basilica.
Despite a strained relationship with Pope Francis during his first presidency, Trump has retained strong support among Catholic voters. Around 20 per cent of Americans identify as Catholic, with roughly 60 per cent voting for Trump in the 2024 election, according to exit polls.
Francis had been an outspoken critic of Trump’s policies, notably his promise to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. In 2016, the late pontiff remarked, “Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian.”
The Vatican conclave, to be held in the Sistine Chapel, is expected to be closely watched as the Church considers its future leadership in a rapidly shifting political and cultural landscape. - May 3, 2025
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