‘They Can’t Take a Joke!’ Trump Scolds Critics of AI Pope Image When Pressed By Fox Reporter — Claims ‘Catholics Loved it’
President Donald Trump distanced himself from the photoshopped image posted to his Truth Social account depicting him as Pope — while still defending it.
During a media engagement Monday in the Oval Office, Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich pressed Trump about the doctored image — which was condemned by prominent Catholics including Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York.
“Some Catholics were not so happy about the image of you looking like the Pope,” Heinrich told Trump — who promptly interjected before Heinrich could get a question out.
“Oh, I see,” Trump said. “You mean they can’t take a joke? You don’t mean the Catholics, you mean the fake news media? The Catholics loved it.”
That claim runs counter to the reaction of many top Catholics who have denounced the image. Cardinal Dolan, speaking in Rome on Sunday ahead of the Papal Conclave, said, “it wasn’t good.” And the New York State Catholic Conference, which represents Catholic bishops in the state of New York, denounced the image in a post on X.
“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,” the group said. “Do not mock us.”
Trump went on to disavow knowledge of the photo — despite the fact that it was posted to both his personal Truth Social account and later the official White House account on X.
“I had nothing to do with it,” Trump said. “Somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the Pope, and they put it out on the internet. That’s not me that did it. I have no idea where it came from. Maybe it was AI, but I know nothing about it. I just saw it last evening.”
Heinrich pressed on to ask about the White House social media channels sharing the photo.
“My question, though, sir, was about the fact that it was put out on the White House account,” Heinrich said. “Even though it was AI-generated, it was a joke, it was a meme. Does it at all diminish the substance of the official White House account to have it go out on that particular account?”
“Give me a break!” Trump said. “It was just — somebody did it in fun. It’s fine. Have to have a little fun, don’t you?”
Watch above, via Fox News.
