Donald Trump Sparks Controversy by Sharing Fake AI Photo as the Pope
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/donald-trump-ai-pope-050325-2272ae41e1444b7fa2ee9c0cb14d4a8b.jpg)
Former President Donald Trump has once again found himself at the center of a social media storm after sharing a digitally altered image of himself depicted as the Pope. The photo, generated by artificial intelligence, was posted by Trump on his Truth Social account just 11 days after the passing of Pope Francis.
The image shows Trump dressed in papal attire, complete with a large cross necklace, and sitting with a serious expression. The post garnered mixed reactions, with critics branding it as “disrespectful” and labelling Trump as a “man-child,” while others viewed it as a mere jest.
This latest social media blunder comes shortly after Trump made a lighthearted remark about being his own “number one choice” to succeed Pope Francis during a press briefing. The timing of the post, coming just days after the late pontiff’s funeral, added fuel to the fire, with many condemning the post as insensitive.
While some social media users slammed Trump for his lack of decorum, others defended the post as harmless humour, suggesting that those offended were overreacting and falling into a trap laid by the former president. The controversy surrounding the AI-generated photo has once again highlighted the polarising nature of Trump’s social media presence.
Critics were quick to point out that this is not the first time Trump has courted controversy by sharing digitally altered content online. Earlier this year, the former president faced backlash for sharing a fake video depicting the transformation of the war-torn Gaza Strip into a luxurious resort, sparking outrage among many.
In the midst of the backlash, political figures such as Senator Lindsey Graham and vocal commentators like Harry Sisson weighed in on the debate, with Graham urging for an open-minded approach towards Trump’s actions, while Sisson criticised the former president for his priorities amidst pressing national issues.
As the public discourse surrounding Trump’s social media activity continues to evolve, the divisive nature of his online presence remains a point of contention. The latest incident involving the fake AI photo as the Pope serves as a reminder of the power and pitfalls of social media in the hands of public figures.
In conclusion, Donald Trump’s decision to share a digitally manipulated image of himself as the Pope has once again thrust him into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The incident has reignited debates about the boundaries of online behaviour for public figures and serves as a cautionary tale about the impact of social media missteps.