In May 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself as pope on Truth Social.

A digitally manipulated image depicting United States President Donald Trump dressed as the pope has triggered widespread condemnation, particularly among Catholics, amid accusations of religious mockery and political provocation. The controversy erupted just days before a historic Vatican conclave to elect the successor to Pope Francis.

Over 12 years as pope, Francis tried to remake the U.S. Catholic hierarchy more in his image, elevating pastors who prioritized social justice and migration issues over culture warriors who were more favored by his more doctrinaire predecessors St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. A new pope who is more conservative could reverse that effort.