Make the Vatican Great Again: Trump’s absurd, disrespectful Papal stunt

By Oghenekevwe Kofi

In an age already saturated with misinformation and AI-generated absurdity, President Donald Trump has once again stretched the limits of presidential decorum—this time by portraying himself as the Pope.

On May 3, 2025, Trump shared an AI-generated image of himself in full papal regalia—golden mitre, ornate robes, crucifix, and even a coronation chair—on his Truth Social platform. The image, astonishingly, was also shared via official White House social media accounts. What might have been dismissed as satire or digital fantasy was anything but harmless: it was disrespectful, ill-timed, and disturbingly self-aggrandising and ‘Trumpish’.

The post arrived just weeks after the death of Pope Francis on April 22, a loss that deeply affected not just Catholics worldwide but the Christian community. While millions were mourning, Trump publicly mused, “I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice,” followed shortly by the now-viral image. Instead of honouring a moment of solemn reflection, the president used it as an opportunity for self-promotion.

Adding to the spectacle, Trump attended Pope Francis’s funeral dressed not in the traditional black attire symbolising mourning, but in a bright blue suit. In Catholic tradition, black clothing is a mark of respect and grief—an expectation flouted in favour of Trump’s characteristic flair. This choice served as yet another reminder of his persistent prioritisation of personal branding over tradition or basic decency.

It’s worth reiterating: Trump is not Catholic, not a cardinal, and under Church law, not eligible to become Pope. His decision to project himself as the pontiff isn’t just narcissistic—it borders on blasphemy. To many, it’s a blatant mockery of one of the most sacred institutions in global religion.

Religious leaders have rightly condemned the stunt, calling it “egotistical,” “irresponsible,” and “profoundly offensive.” Even among Trump’s supporters, the move has sparked division—some interpreting it as satire, others as a troubling sign of the growing irreverence infecting high office. Either way, it signals something larger: the continued erosion of dignity in the American presidency.

This was not a parody skit or late-night joke. It was digital self-deification, backed by the tools of artificial intelligence and the authority of the presidency. And that should concern everyone.

Sadly, this kind of spectacle is no longer surprising in Trump’s America. The line between governance and showmanship has all but vanished. A sitting president donning a blue suit at a Pope’s funeral, then circulating an AI image of himself as Pontiff, marks a new low in a presidency increasingly defined by chaos and disregard for tradition.

Once a beacon of moral leadership and diplomatic sobriety, the American presidency risks becoming a global punchline. In a moment that demanded humility and respect, Trump chose vanity. And the world took notice.

The question now is not whether the image was offensive—it was. The real question is: Will there be any consequences?