00:00US President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed in papal attire just
00:07days after the death of Pope Francis. The image which was posted on Trump's social
00:12media platform shows him in traditional white papal vestments, complete with a gold crucifix
00:18and mitre, pointing skyward in a classical pontifical gesture. The timing of the post
00:23coming so soon after the passing of the 88-year-old Pope Francis, who died of a stroke in a heart
00:29failure, has fuelled a firestorm of reactions across the internet. Trump's post followed
00:35a recent quip to reporters where he joked, I'd like to be a Pope. That would be my number
00:41one choice, when asked who he would like to see succeed Pope Francis.
00:46While some online users found the post humorous, the backlash was swift and intense. Many Catholics
00:53and social media users condemned the image as deeply disrespectful, accusing Trump of
00:59mocking the late pontiff and the solemn process of selecting a new Pope. Comments ranged from
01:05outrage to disbelief. One user called the post disrespectful to the Church and God himself,
01:11while another labelled it as disgusting and entirely offensive. Critics argued that the post trivialised
01:18the mourning period for Catholics worldwide and the sacred traditions of the Vatican. While the viral
01:25post has sparked a wave of memes and satire, some supporters and even politicians like Senator
01:31Lindsey Graham jokingly endorsed Trump as the dark horse Apple candidate. Still, for many, the image
01:37crossed a line, blurring the boundaries between satire and disrespect at a sensitive moment for the
01:43Catholic community.
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