President is seen in what appears to be an AI-generated colour image


Washington (AFP): US President Donald Trump posted on Friday a spoof picture of himself dressed as the pope on his Truth Social platform after joking that he would like to be the next Catholic pontiff.
The president is seen in what appears to be an AI-generated color image, with his right index finger pointed toward the sky, wearing papal regalia, including white robes, a gold crucifix pendant and the miter hat.
It comes after Trump joked to reporters this week that he would like to be the next pope, just days before cardinals are due to start the conclave to elect the successor of Pope Francis who died on April 21.
Asked who he would like to succeed Pope Francis, Trump said: “I’d like to be pope, that would be my number one choice.”
Trump went on to say that he did not have a preference but said there was a cardinal in New York who was “very good.”
He appeared to be referring to the archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, a theological conservative and fiercely opposed to abortion.
Trump attended the funeral service of Pope Francis last week, his first foreign trip since returning to power.
About 20 percent of Americans declare themselves Catholic, and exit polls indicated in November that they voted around 60 percent in favor of Trump.
Pope Francis had arguably been one of the most powerful moral voices on the world stage critical of Trump.
When Trump first ran for president in 2016, Francis was unsparing on his signature promise to build a border wall to seal off Mexico.
Francis told reporters, “Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian.”
Cardinals will gather on May 7 in a conclave in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope.

Inflation rate likely to be 7.5pc in next fiscal year
- 30 minutes ago

America might finally make childbirth free
- 4 hours ago

This is the future kids want
- 4 hours ago

RFK Jr.’s strike against Covid vaccines
- 4 hours ago

Why the socialist left gets the far right wrong
- 4 hours ago

RFK Jr. is asking the wrong question about autism. Here’s the right one.
- 4 hours ago

UAE Police arrest 41 beggars from hotel, AED60,000 recovered
- 24 minutes ago

Pakistan defeat Bangladesh in second T20 taking decisive lead
- 2 hours ago

Ukraine hasn’t won over Trump. But it might not need to.
- 4 hours ago

Trump officials plan to destroy a critical government program they probably know nothing about
- 4 hours ago

Floods wreak havoc in Nigeria, killing 117 people
- 2 hours ago

Israel threatens Hamas to be wiped off if ceasefire deal not accepted
- 2 hours ago