'Give me a break': Trump brushes off Catholic backlash over AI Pope image
The US president shared the image on his Truth Social platform, where it was later reposted by the official White House X account. The image showed Trump in full papal attire, including a white cassock and bishop's mitre, and was posted during the official nine-day mourning period for Pope Francis, who died on 21 April. The conclave to elect his successor is due to begin Wednesday.
Asked by a reporter about Catholic backlash, Trump said: "Ohh, I see.
You mean, they can't take a joke? You don't mean the Catholics, you mean the fake news media. The Catholics loved it."
He went on to brush aside concerns about the timing of the image, joking: "Maybe it was AI... my wife thought it was cute. Actually, I would not be able to be married \[if I were the Pope]! It's the fake news media - they're fakers."
— EricLDaugh (@EricLDaugh)
When pressed on whether sharing such content from the official White House account diminishes its credibility, Trump snapped: "Give me a break.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Scarlett Johansson, 40, Shows Off Her Real Size In A New Vacation Photos
33 Bridges
Undo
Somebody did it in fun."
The image sparked outrage among Catholic groups and Italian commentators. The New York State Catholic Conference said, "There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President… Do not mock us." Italy's La Repubblica accused Trump of "pathological megalomania," while former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called the post 'shameful.'
Despite the outcry, Trump's allies rallied to his defence. Far-right commentator Jack Posobiec, a practising Catholic, dismissed the uproar as lacking humour, writing: "We've all been making jokes about the upcoming Pope selection all week."
Trump had joked just days earlier about becoming Pope himself: "I'd like to be pope. That would be my number one choice." His allies, including Senator Lindsey Graham, even played along, suggesting Trump as a 'dark horse candidate.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
15 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Trump repeats claim he settled wars, including between India and Pakistan, with trade
US President Donald Trump on Sunday yet again took credit for stopping conflicts around the world, including the recent one between India and Pakistan. US President Donald Trump walks off Air Force One at the Lehigh Valley International Airport on August 01, 2025 in Allentown, Pennsylvania.(AFP) Since May 10, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a 'full and immediate' ceasefire after a 'long night' of talks mediated by Washington, he has repeated his claim on several occasions. Trump's latest claim comes days after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for ending several conflicts around the world including the one between India and Pakistan. On Sunday, in a post on Truth Social, Trump slammed radio host and author Charlamagne Tha God, and said he (God) knows nothing about him or what he has done, 'like just ending 5 Wars, including a 31 year bloodbath between Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, where Seven Million people have died, and there was no end in sight.' 'He didn't know that, or India and Pakistan or, wiping out Iran's nuclear capabilities, or closing the horrendous open Border, or creating the greatest economy,' Trump said. Just a day earlier, Trump said in an interview on Newsmax that he has settled a lot of wars. 'You take a look at what's happened just over the last little while. We've settled a lot of, a lot of very beautiful wars have been settled… One of the wars India, Pakistan, nuclear,' Trump said adding that he settled conflict between Thailand and Cambodia as well as Congo and Rwanda. 'I settled that up. And I settled it up with trade. I settled a lot of them with trade. I said 'listen, you guys are going to fight. You can fight all you want. I mean, just fight your hearts out. But we're not doing a trade deal'. 'All of a sudden they end up not doing a war. I settled a lot of wars. I think I settled averaging about a war a month. But, you know, we're saving millions of lives,' he said. Trump on Wednesday announced the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming from India starting August 1, plus an unspecified penalty for buying Russian crude oil and military equipment. The tariff for Pakistan was 19 per cent, lower than the 29 per cent announced by Trump in April. In fact, Trump on Wednesday also announced sealing a trade deal with Pakistan and said that Washington will work with Islamabad to develop what he described as the South Asian nation's 'massive oil reserves.' At a White House press briefing on Thursday, Leavitt said that Trump has 'now ended conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia, Israel and Iran, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India and Pakistan, Serbia and Kosovo and Egypt and Ethiopia.' She said that the president has brokered, on average, about one peace deal or ceasefire per month during his six months in office. 'It's well past time that President Trump was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize,' she said. Since May 10, Trump has repeated his claim nearly 30 times that he 'helped settle' the tensions between India and Pakistan and that he told the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours that America will do a 'lot of trade' with them if they stopped the conflict. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Parliament this week that no leader of any country asked India to stop Operation Sindoor launched by India in retaliation after the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday categorically said there was no third-party intervention in bringing about a ceasefire with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, asserting that the halting of the military action was also not linked to trade as claimed by Trump. Intervening in the special discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Rajya Sabha, Jaishankar said Prime Minister Modi and Trump did not have any phone calls between April 22, when the Pahalgam terror attack took place, and June 16.
Mint
15 minutes ago
- Mint
US top official signals Donald Trump's tariff rates ‘pretty much set' ahead of August 7 rollout
US President Donald Trump's global tariff policy is coming into sharper focus as his administration moves to implement revised trade measures. The updated slate of customised tariffs—ranging from 10% to 40%—is set to take effect on August 7, according to an executive order issued last week. 'These tariff rates are pretty much set,' said US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during an appearance on CBS News. 'I expect I do have my phone blowing up... we're seeing truly the contours of the President's tariff plan right now with these rates.' Trump first unveiled a baseline 10% tariff on nearly all US imports on April 2, dubbed 'Liberation Day,' followed by a series of higher, country-specific rates. The initial announcement triggered a stock market downturn, prompting the administration to delay implementation twice to allow time for negotiations. In the weeks following 'Liberation Day,' Trump's trade team engaged in fast-track talks with numerous countries. Agreements were reportedly reached with the European Union, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, and others. 'Some of these deals are announced, some are not, others depend on the level of the trade deficit or surplus we may have with the country,' Greer explained. 'There are trade ministers who want to talk more and see how they can work in a different way with the United States,' said Greer. 'But I think that we have, we're seeing truly the contours of the President's tariff plan right now with these rates.' As part of Trump's broader trade strategy, a tariff truce with China is currently in place but is set to expire on August 12. Simultaneously, the administration has given Russia until August 8 to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine. Failure to do so may lead to secondary tariffs or sanctions on countries purchasing Russian oil. The sweeping tariff moves are also facing legal scrutiny. Last Thursday, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit heard arguments related to the administration's authority to impose such tariffs. Trump invoked emergency powers to justify the measures, but legal experts have raised questions about the extent of his authority.
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Drone misuse will attract stern action: UP CM
Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday issued a stern warning against the misuse of drones in public spaces and said that people trying to spread panic or misinformation through such activities will face legal consequences, including action under the Gangsters Act and the National Security Act (NSA). Calling drone-related mischief a potential threat to public order, the CM said, "Any attempt to incite fear or spread rumours using drones will not be tolerated. The govt will deal strictly with such elements." The CM's statement comes amid growing concerns over unauthorised drone activity in various districts. He said that operating drones without official permission is strictly prohibited, and any violation would result in harsh punitive action. He asked the principal secretary (home) and the director general of police (DGP) to conduct a comprehensive review of drone-related activities and initiate immediate action in case of misuse of drones. He also ordered the implementation of a statewide drone monitoring system to ensure real-time surveillance and rapid response. "District-level law enforcement agencies must increase patrolling and maintain public trust by actively deterring the misuse of aerial surveillance technology," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo Yogi asserted that the govt supported the positive use of emerging technologies but would not hesitate to crack down on its malicious or unlawful use. "Technology should be used for innovation and development—not to threaten public peace or manipulate law and order. Anyone trying to destabilise the system through tech-driven intimidation will face the full force of the law," he said. "By tightening legal provisions and enhancing monitoring mechanisms, the state aims to create a deterrent against drone-related crimes, while assuring the public that law and order will not be compromised," a govt spokesperson said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
