Donald Trump says he has “no idea” how that now-viral Pope image of him came to be, but he’s not mad about it either.
The 78-year-old U.S. President found himself all over Instagram in the early hours of May 3, thanks to an AI-generated image that showed him dressed like the next head of the Catholic Church. The twist? Trump insists he had absolutely nothing to do with it.
“I just saw it last evening,” he said when asked about the image, which had no caption and exploded across social media. “Maybe it was AI. But I know nothing about it.”
Still, he’s not complaining. According to Trump, the image got a warm reception, especially from his wife, Melania. “The Catholics loved it!” he laughed. “My wife thought it was cute. She said, ‘Isn’t that nice?’”
The meme-worthy moment came just days after Trump casually floated the idea of becoming the next Pope. While speaking to reporters following the death of Pope Francis, Trump was asked who he thought should succeed him. He didn’t miss a beat: “I’d like to be Pope! That would be my number one choice,” he joked, before quickly clarifying, “No, I don’t know, I have no preference.” Still, he gave a shoutout to a certain New York cardinal, saying he’s “very good” and leaving it at that.
The timing of the viral image raised eyebrows since it arrived shortly after the official announcement that Pope Francis had passed away. The pontiff died on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88 following a stroke and heart failure. Dr. Sergio Alfieri, his chief surgeon, shared emotional details about the Pope’s final hours. He described how Francis fell into a coma with his eyes open and didn’t respond to any medical stimuli. Despite efforts to revive him, the Pope passed away peacefully at home, as per his wishes.
Dr. Alfieri recalled the quiet moment of his passing, saying, “I gave him a caress as a last farewell.” He and other staff members stayed by the Pope’s side until Cardinal Parolin led them all in a rosary, honoring the spiritual leader’s final moments.
So, while the world was mourning a historic loss, the internet ran wild with an unexpected blend of faith, politics, and AI art. Trump might not know where the Pope image came from, but he’s definitely aware it made waves. And apparently, Melania gives it her blessing.
