Some users focused on the timing of the post, given that it was made less than two weeks after Pope Francis’ death. X user @MissSassbox condemned the move as tone-deaf and offensive.

“This is literally the President of the United States of America while the Vatican is still grieving the loss of Pope Francis and trying to pick his successor,” the user wrote. “It’s not even funny at this point, it’s actually disrespectful and I’m not even Catholic.”

Others, however, came to Trump’s defense. Some users argued that the image was “clearly a joke” and accused critics of overreacting and “taking the bait.”

Earlier in the week, Trump had made headlines after joking with reporters about his ideal choice to replace Pope Francis. While speaking on the White House lawn, he briefly paused before smiling and saying, “I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice.” He later clarified that he had “no preference” for the upcoming conclave, scheduled to begin May 7.

This isn’t Trump’s first time stirring controversy with AI content. Back in February, he shared a fake AI video depicting the war-torn Gaza Strip as a luxury resort.

The video, released not long after Trump floated the idea of the U.S. “taking over” Gaza and transforming it into something “magnificent,” featured a glitzy “Trump Gaza” tower, an AI-generated version of Elon Musk, a massive golden Trump statue, and small gold Trump figurines scattered throughout.

The footage was set to an upbeat track with a chorus that sang: “No more tunnels, no more fear / Trump Gaza is finally here!”