US President Donald Trump posted a photo, on his Instagram account on Saturday, in which he appears dressed as the Pope has sparked a new wave of controversy, with reactions ranging from praise for Trump's sense of humor to criticism of his portrayal of the Vatican and its pope.
Trump did not accompany the image, which appears to have been created using AI.
The photo shows Trump sitting on an ornate chair, wearing white papal robes and a headdress, raising his right index finger.
The post sparked immediate outrage on the X platform, including from the group "Republicans Against Trump," which describes itself as "pro-democracy conservative Republicans fighting Trump and his policies." The group reposted the photo, calling it "a blatant insult to Catholics and a mockery of their faith."
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni declined to comment on the photo during a press briefing on the election process for the new papacy, which begins on May 7.
Last week, Trump jokingly told a reporter when asked about his expectations for the next pope, "I would like to be pope. That would be my first choice."
Trump told reporters in the White House lawn when asked who he would like to become the next pope: "I would like to be pope. That would be my first choice."
The president also indicated he had no particular preference, adding, "I have to say, we have a cardinal from a place called New York who is very good, so we'll see what happens."
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, is not among the potential candidates for the position, but another American, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, is on the list. No American has ever served as pope, according to Reuters.
The Vatican installed a chimney on Friday above the roof of the Sistine Chapel in preparation for the conclave of cardinals, which will begin on May 7, to elect a new pope.
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