Press Secretary of the White House Karoline Leitt as asked about the image of the generated AI Donald Trump dressed as a Pope, defended the president and said he was traveling to Italy to attend the funeral of Pope Francis and “was a firm champion for Catholics and religious freedom”.
Leitt said, “President Trump flew to Italy to give respect to Pope Francis and participate in his funeral, and was a firm champion for Catholics and religious freedom.”
The picture published on Trump’s Trump’s Social Account and later replaced the White House on X, triggered a sharp criticism from Catholic leaders and Italian officials.
American bishops condemn the image
The State Catholic Conference in New York called the post offensive. “There is nothing clever or funny in this picture, Mr. President,” a group of bishops said. “We have just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the Cardinals are about to enter the ceremonial conclave. Miss us.”
The Italian former Premier Matteo Renzi killed the picture as “shameful”, wrote on X: “This is an image that offends the believer, insults the institution, and shows that the leader of the right -wing world likes clowning.”
The Vatican refused to comment on the spokesman Matteo Bruni.
Trump jokes about how to become a pope
Meme followed Trump’s earlier comments this week when he became the Pope himself.
“I would like to be the Pope. That would be my number one choice,” Trump said, although he was not a Catholic.
Quip caused a mixture of entertainment and outrage online. Senator Lindsey Graham added to mockery and published, “I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being another Pope … watching white smoke… Trump MMXXVIII!”
The vice president of JD Vance also joined and joked that Foreign Minister Marco Rubio could make a good Pope.
Trump supports Cardinal Dolan – but his chances hurt
Trump also carelessly approved Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York as a possible papal candidate.
“I have no preferences. I have to say that we have a cardinal that happens that it is in a place called New York, which is very good. So we will see what will happen,” he said.
However, the Vatican initiates warned that such public support could harm Dolan’s prospects.
In one of his last public statements before his hospitalization, Pope Francis also focused on theological defense of the deportation of Vice President Vance.
(Tagstotranslate) Donald Trump (T) AI Generated Picture (T) Pope Francis Funeral (T) The Reaction of the White House
