JD Vance Defends Trump’s AI-Generated Pope Image as Humorous
US Vice President JD Vance has come to the defense of Donald Trump’s AI-generated image of himself as pope, characterizing it as a joke. The controversy arose after Trump shared the image on Truth Social following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88 on Easter Monday.
Vance, who is Catholic, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that he is “fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen.” This response came in reaction to Bill Kristol’s query about the perceived disrespect towards the late Pope Francis.
The papal conclave is set to begin on May 7 to elect a successor to Pope Francis. Vance was among the last individuals to meet with Pope Francis before his passing.
The New York State Catholic Conference criticized Trump’s post, with their official X account stating, “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.”
Senator Lindsey Graham humorously supported Trump’s papal candidacy on X, saying, “Glad to report there is very positive reception and strong momentum for President Trump to be the next Pope. But I will be first to admit there has been some resistance!.” Graham continued, “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.”
Trump had previously expressed interest in leading the Catholic Church, initially suggesting himself as a prime candidate before recommending New York-based Cardinal Timothy Dolan for the position. Notably, no American cardinal has ever served as pope.
The incident has sparked a mix of reactions, with some viewing it as a harmless joke and others taking offense. The controversy highlights the sensitive nature of religious imagery and the varied perceptions of humor in such contexts.
