On Friday, the White House shared a provocative AI-generated image of former President Donald Trump, humorously portraying him as the pope.

This release came just a few days after Trump had made a light-hearted comment to reporters, expressing his whimsical desire to hold the papacy, stating, “I’d like to be pope,” and calling it his “number one choice.”

The context of this post is particularly significant, as it coincides with the impending conclave set to commence on May 7, where cardinals will gather to elect the next successor of Pope Francis, who recently passed away.

Just last weekend, Trump attended Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome, a solemn event that witnessed the convergence of significant political figures, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Following his return from the funeral, Trump reiterated his playful remarks in front of the White House, indicating that while he enjoyed the idea of being pope, he did not express any particular preference for who should be selected in the conclave.

Vice President JD Vance, who officially converted to Catholicism in 2019, had a personal meeting with Pope Francis just a day prior to the pontiff’s untimely death— a stroke that ultimately led to irreversible heart failure, as documented in a death certificate released by the Vatican.

According to CNBC, the release of the AI-generated image sparked a wave of reactions across social media platforms.

While some users viewed it as a harmless joke, others were outraged by what they deemed a disrespectful portrayal in light of recent events.

The New York State Catholic Conference, representing the bishops of the state, issued a striking condemnation of the post, arguing that “there is nothing clever or funny about this image.”

They emphasized the gravity of the situation by noting, “We just buried our beloved Pope Francis, and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter,” and concluded their statement with a firm demand: “Do not mock us.”

Former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele, known for his vocal opposition to Trump, also weighed in, criticizing the post as indicative of Trump’s unseriousness and unfitness for leadership.

This incident isn’t the first occasion where the White House has shared a contentious AI-generated image of Trump.

Back in February, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich posted an AI-rendered image portraying Trump as a regal figure, following the administration’s controversial decision to eliminate New York City’s congestion pricing program.

Trump himself embraced this royal depiction in a Truth Social post, exclaiming, “Congestion pricing is dead,” and humorously declared, “Long live the king,” as he celebrated the outcome in a bid to rally his supporters.