Trump’s Pope Meme: Why the Outrage Over a Harmless Joke Misses the Mark in 2025

On May 2, 2025, President Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as the Pope on Truth Social, just days after Pope Francis’s death on April 21 and ahead of the May 7 papal conclave. The White House reposted it on X and Instagram, sparking a firestorm. Atheists and some Catholics called it “disrespectful,” but as a Catholic myself—rosary beads and all—I’m not offended. I draw the line at true desecration, like urinating on Jesus’s image or harming the Virgin Mother’s, but this? It’s a meme, a joke, not worth the outrage. Let’s unpack why this controversy is overblown and what it reveals about media sensationalism in 2025.

The Controversy: Trump's Pope Meme Sparks Fury

Trump’s image—depicting him in a white cassock, pointed mitre, and gold cross, seated with a raised finger—came after he attended Francis’s funeral in Rome and jokingly told reporters on April 30, “I’d like to be pope.” The timing, during the Novemdiales mourning period, drew sharp criticism. The New York State Catholic Conference called it a “mockery,” saying, “We just buried our beloved Pope Francis.” Italy’s La Repubblica accused Trump of “pathological megalomania,” and former RNC chairman Michael Steele labeled him “unserious and incapable.”

But not everyone was outraged. Townhall’s Dustan Grage called it “actually funny,” dismissing critics as mostly atheists whose opinions he felt didn’t matter. Sen. Lindsey Graham playfully backed Trump as a “dark horse candidate” for pope, and some X users

who are Catholic saw it as Trump trolling journalists, not slighting the Church. As a Catholic, I agree—this meme doesn’t cross a sacred line. True desecration offends me, but a lighthearted joke during a mourning period? It’s not the end of the world.

Misplaced Outrage: Seeking Fury Over Substance

The outrage over Trump’s meme reveals a deeper issue: people often want to be outraged, especially when the media amplifies it. The Intercept’s recent attack on DOGE, claiming Musk amassed $300M to install Trump, mirrors this pattern—sensationalism over substance. In 2024, Pew found 62% of Americans distrust mainstream media, a sentiment stronger in rural communities like mine, where only 20% of NPR’s audience lives. Yet outlets like La Repubblica and The Independent ran with the “mockery” narrative, ignoring Trump’s history of AI posts—like the Gaza resort video or fake Taylor Swift endorsement—that were clearly satirical. Why the fury over a meme when real issues, like the Vatican’s conclave or global conflicts, deserve attention?

Atheists calling this “blasphemy” (e.g.,@trackingdonald) seem performative—many tolerated drag queens mocking nuns at the 2024 Olympics. The outrage feels selective, driven by those who’d rather clutch pearls than address substantive issues—like the $40B USAID budget that DOGE is slashing to redirect funds to rural America.

Trump’s Intent: A Joke, Not a Jab

Trump’s intent matters. He’s not Catholic, identifying as a non-denominational Christian, but he attended Francis’s funeral and met with Cardinal Timothy Dolan, whom he named to the Religious Liberty Commission on May 1. His quip about wanting to be pope, followed by support for Dolan, shows this was a jest, not a jab at the Church. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized Trump’s respect for Catholics, noting his presence at the funeral and advocacy for religious liberty. Critics like the New York State Catholic Conference argue the timing was raw, but as a Catholic, I see no malice here. Trump’s meme doesn’t desecrate sacred symbols—it’s a playful nod, not a middle finger to my faith.

Media Sensationalism: A Pattern of Distraction

This controversy fits a pattern of media sensationalism. The Intercept’s $15 donation drive to sue DOGE, as we exposed in “DOGE Unleashed”, prioritizes headlines over facts. Similarly, the Trump/Pope outrage distracts from real issues—like DOGE’s $4.7 trillion in poorly documented payment findings, which could fund rural schools or clinics. In 2024, Gallup showed 68% of Americans want cuts to wasteful programs, yet media focuses on memes, not solutions. Rural America, where government programs often serve urban elites (65% NPR audience urban, Pew 2024), deserves better than manufactured outrage.

Focus on What Matters

The Trump/Pope meme isn’t worth the fury. As a Catholic, I’m not offended by a joke—real desecration crosses my line, but this doesn’t. The outrage, fueled by media sensationalism, distracts from what matters: efficiency, taxpayer priorities, and rural needs. DOGE’s fight for fiscal responsibility, not memes, should be the story. Let’s move past the noise and focus on building a government that serves us all—not just the outrage machine.