Trump Pretends to Be Pope While Vance Cheers From the Pews

Vice President J.D. Vance defended President Donald Trump over the weekend as backlash intensified following a Truth Social post featuring an AI-generated image of Trump as the pope, shared just days after the funeral of Pope Francis.

While critics accused the president of mocking the Catholic faith and showing deep disrespect during a sacred moment, Vance and other Republican allies doubled down in support.

The controversy erupted on Friday when Trump posted the digitally altered image without commentary, as cardinals from around the world prepared to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new pope.

The image quickly spread online, drawing a mix of amusement from some of Trump’s supporters and outrage from others, particularly within the Catholic community.

Among those who called out the post was conservative political commentator Bill Kristol, who served as chief of staff to the vice president under George H.W. Bush and remains a vocal critic of Trump. “Hey, @JDVance, you fine with this disrespect and mocking of the Holy Father?” Kristol wrote on the social platform X.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019 and has frequently spoken about his faith, replied with a jab of his own. “As a general rule, I’m fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen,” Vance wrote, referencing Kristol’s past support for the 2003 Iraq War.

But the pushback to Trump’s post extended far beyond Kristol or partisan debates about foreign policy. The Catholic Bishops of New York State issued a strongly worded rebuke, saying, “There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. 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. Do not mock us.”

The AI image, which depicts Trump in ornate papal robes and seated in a position of religious authority, was reposted from the official White House account, further fueling criticism that the administration is blurring the lines between reverence and ridicule.

Representative Ted Lieu of California, a Catholic and frequent critic of the administration, also weighed in. “As a Catholic, I take great offense to Donald Trump mocking Catholics,” Lieu wrote on X.

“I wish Trump would focus on lowering prices instead. The American economy had negative GDP growth last quarter. That’s what he should be focused on instead of making fun of Catholics.”

The post comes amid what the Church and its followers regard as a deeply sacred period. The conclave to select Pope Francis’s successor is set to begin on May 7. The mood inside the Vatican has been described as one of reflection and prayer, not political theater or social media spectacle.

Vance, who just days earlier had spoken emotionally about his final meeting with Pope Francis before the pontiff’s death, offered no criticism of Trump’s post. Instead, he framed it as harmless humor in contrast to what he considers more serious political missteps in recent American history.

“I was one of the last people to talk to him,” Vance said of Pope Francis. “I just take it as a great honor and a sign from God to remember that you never know when your last day on this Earth is.”

Trump’s supporters quickly followed suit in defending the post, brushing aside complaints as overreaction. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina joined the fray on Saturday with a series of posts that appeared to double down on the parody, treating the image as if it reflected a legitimate campaign for the papacy.

“Seeing is believing! A picture is worth a thousand words….Glad to report there is very positive reception and strong momentum for President Trump to be the next Pope,” Graham wrote.

“But I will be first to admit there has been some resistance. Must keep your head down and plow forward — can’t let the naysayers win the day. Next week is crucial as the papal conclave convenes…. More updates to come!”

Graham’s tongue-in-cheek tone, though clearly meant to entertain Trump’s base, did little to calm outrage from Catholic clergy and faithful who saw the entire episode as deeply inappropriate.

The AI image follows a pattern in Trump’s political career in which solemn or serious events are quickly rebranded into moments for personal spectacle. From campaign rallies staged near national tragedies to off-the-cuff remarks during moments of mourning, Trump has long shown a tendency to center himself in the narrative, no matter the context.

While some view this as part of his political brand — irreverent, provocative, and unconcerned with tradition — others see it as proof that Trump lacks the basic decency required for leadership.

Even within conservative Catholic circles, the image was met with unease. “This is not how we honor the papacy,” one Catholic radio host wrote. “This is a man who came to the funeral of a pope and then days later posted a picture of himself in the pope’s robes. That’s not humor. That’s narcissism.”

The fact that the White House’s official social media account reposted the image only added to the perception that the administration is treating religious traditions as props for political messaging.

Critics say the act was especially insensitive coming from a president who, while claiming to be a nondenominational Christian, has shown limited engagement with faith traditions beyond superficial appearances.

Meanwhile, as Trump’s social media antics once again dominate headlines, real-world concerns continue to mount. Inflation has yet to ease significantly, and GDP shrank last quarter, suggesting the economy may be slowing.

Critics like Lieu argue that time spent courting viral moments could be better spent addressing pressing issues like energy prices, healthcare access, and wage stagnation.

As the Vatican moves closer to announcing a new leader, the contrast between sacred tradition and political performance has rarely felt sharper. Cardinals are now preparing for the conclave with a focus on prayer, reflection, and humility — while in Washington, the president plays dress-up with AI software and treats the death of a global religious leader as a meme opportunity.

For the faithful, it’s a moment that deserves quiet reverence. For Trump, it seems, it’s another stage. And for those watching both scenes unfold side by side, the question is not just one of taste — it’s one of leadership.

In the days ahead, as the Catholic Church makes one of its most significant decisions in decades, the world will be watching. So will Trump. Whether his next post will be more reflective of the moment — or simply more self-promotion — remains to be seen. But for now, the outrage continues, and the divide between solemnity and spectacle grows ever wider.