Summary
The circulation of AI-generated images featuring public figures has become a prominent and contentious phenomenon in contemporary digital media. One particularly notable case involved a photorealistic image depicting former U.S. President Donald Trump as the Pope, created using the advanced AI tool Midjourney. This image was shared by Trump himself on his social media platform Truth Social and later amplified by official White House accounts, attracting widespread attention amid the solemn period following Pope Francis’s death and the Vatican’s preparations to elect his successor.
The image exemplifies the rapid advancements in AI image generation technology, which now allows users to produce highly realistic and detailed visuals from simple textual prompts. While such technology enables creative expression and political satire, it also raises serious concerns about misinformation, authenticity, and the ethical implications of digitally manipulating revered figures. Experts warn that the ease of creating and disseminating such AI-generated content contributes to a growing “crisis of truth,” complicating public discourse and media literacy.
The sharing of the AI-created Trump-as-the-Pope image provoked significant controversy and criticism. Religious groups and political commentators condemned it as disrespectful and offensive, particularly given its timing during a sensitive religious transition. The Vatican declined to comment directly but emphasized the importance of focusing on the papal conclave. This incident highlighted broader debates about the cultural impact of AI-generated media and the challenges of balancing satire, freedom of expression, and respect for religious and public figures.
The controversy also underscored the need for improved detection technologies and regulatory oversight as AI-generated deepfakes and manipulated images become increasingly sophisticated and pervasive. Public figures, including Pope Francis, have called for greater vigilance and ethical frameworks to manage the potential harms posed by AI-driven misinformation. This case stands as a significant early example of AI’s profound influence on political communication and digital culture in the 2020s.
Background
The sharing of AI-generated and manipulated images has become increasingly prevalent, often amplifying political narratives regardless of their authenticity. Experts caution that people frequently share such images to support broader political views without verifying their legitimacy. The rise of deepfake technology and generative AI tools like Midjourney has made creating highly realistic and convincing images more accessible to the public. For instance, Midjourney, which generates images from text prompts, has been used to create various viral visuals, some of which have been knowingly shared for humor, while others have fueled misinformation.
Deepfake technology has previously been used in notable cases to mislead public opinion and authorities. An example includes expertly doctored CCTV footage intended to frame an individual and deceive investigators. Another instance involved the creation of a deepfake altering a classic film by replacing Tom Hanks’ face with that of John Travolta using thousands of high-quality still images. Such advances in digital content creation are supported by research in generative models, such as NVIDIA’s Progressive Growing of GANs, which have significantly improved the quality and variation of AI-generated images.
The phenomenon of viral misinformation fueled by deepfake technology was exemplified by the so-called “Balenciaga Pope” image, which became one of the first truly viral cases of AI-driven misinformation, highlighting the potential challenges that lie ahead in managing the spread of such content. These developments illustrate the complex context in which AI-created images, including politically charged or satirical ones, are shared and received by the public.
Description of the AI-Created Image
The AI-created image in question was generated using Midjourney V5, a leading AI image generation tool known for producing highly realistic and detailed visuals from textual prompts. The image depicts an imaginative and striking scenario involving former President Donald Trump, showcasing the capabilities of advanced AI models to create photorealistic compositions that blend real-world figures with fictional contexts.
Midjourney V5, released after significant advancements in AI image synthesis, enables users to generate images that are often indistinguishable from real photographs, especially when given detailed and carefully crafted prompts. The image shared by the British journalist utilized Midjourney’s generative AI technology, which interprets user text inputs and transforms them into compelling and hyperrealistic visuals. This specific example illustrates the platform’s strength in rendering human likenesses and complex scenes, a task historically challenging for AI systems due to difficulties with elements like human fingers, facial expressions, and intricate backgrounds.
The image gained attention not only for its visual quality but also for the creative context in which it was shared—imagining Trump in a scenario related to his arrest, which further underscores the use of AI-generated content to produce striking and provocative media. Such images are often accompanied by contextual prompts and modifiers, including references to resolution and photographic styles, to enhance their realism and impact. Overall, this image exemplifies the current state of AI image generation technology, blending creativity, technical sophistication, and cultural commentary through hyperrealistic digital art.
Technical Aspects of AI Image Generation
AI image generation has rapidly evolved in recent years, advancing from rudimentary attempts at creating human-like images to producing visuals indistinguishable from reality. Early models, such as the first version of Midjourney released in February 2022, struggled with realistic human features. However, contemporary models now deliver highly photorealistic images, reflecting significant progress in AI capabilities.
Central to many AI image generation techniques are generative adversarial networks (GANs), which have revolutionized the creation of realistic images. A GAN consists of two neural networks—a generator and a discriminator—that work in opposition to refine the generated content. The generator creates images based on learned patterns, while the discriminator evaluates their authenticity. Through this adversarial process, the generator improves until the synthetic images become convincingly real.
Advanced GAN architectures have been developed to enhance various aspects of image generation, including producing high-resolution outputs and preserving consistency when transforming images between domains. For instance, architectures like ProgressiveGAN enable the creation of very high-resolution images, while models such as DiscoGAN utilize reconstruction loss to ensure fidelity when images undergo domain transformation and reversal.
Photorealistic AI models often require minimal input, allowing users to generate realistic images simply by providing textual prompts. Tools like getimg.ai leverage such models to create hyperrealistic photos with straightforward instructions, incorporating modifiers related to photo resolution (e.g., HDR, UHD, 4K, 8K) to achieve desired effects. This ease of use expands the accessibility of AI-generated imagery for applications ranging from license-free stock photos to detailed headshots.
Despite these advances, certain elements—such as human fingers, teeth, and screens—remain challenging for AI to replicate accurately, although current top-tier platforms demonstrate consistent performance in overcoming these difficulties. Furthermore, AI image generation platforms increasingly integrate auxiliary features like editing tools and upscaling capabilities, enhancing user control and output quality beyond mere generation.
In addition to GANs, other machine learning techniques play roles in related AI-generated media such as deepfakes. Deepfakes employ facial recognition algorithms and deep learning networks, including variational autoencoders (VAEs), to manipulate subtle facial features within videos or images, underscoring the complex interplay of technologies behind modern AI-generated visual content.
Dissemination and Official Responses
On a Friday evening, former U.S. President Donald Trump posted an image depicting himself as the pope on his official account on Truth Social, the social-media platform operated by Trump Media & Technology Group, without providing any comment or context. The origin of the image was unclear at the time of posting. Shortly after, the White House shared the same image on its official X and Instagram accounts, amplifying its reach. This dissemination occurred amid the global gathering of cardinals in Vatican City to elect Pope Francis’ successor, intensifying the image’s political and cultural resonance.
The image was later identified as a fabricated creation generated by an artificial intelligence (AI) tool called Midjourney. Eliot Higgins, founder and creative director of the investigative collective Bellingcat, was among the first to highlight the AI origin of the photos. This revelation contradicted any genuine claims regarding the image and underscored the growing sophistication of AI-generated deepfakes.
The image sparked widespread criticism. An official group involved with Vatican communications condemned it on X, emphasizing the solemnity of the period following Pope Francis’ passing and the ongoing papal conclave, stating, “There is nothing clever or funny about this image”. Additionally, former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele described the post as indicative of Trump’s perceived unseriousness and incapacity.
Experts have noted that AI-generated images like these contribute to a broader “crisis of truth,” with Pope Francis himself warning that artificial intelligence can exacerbate misinformation. Meanwhile, social media researchers have observed that people often share such images to reinforce political viewpoints without verifying their authenticity. In response, technological efforts have advanced to detect deepfakes by analyzing subtle cues such as eye reflections and unique facial or vocal mannerisms, particularly in well-documented individuals like political leaders.
Public and Institutional Reactions
The AI-generated image of Donald Trump depicted as the Pope sparked widespread controversy and elicited a broad spectrum of public and institutional responses. The image, which was first posted by Trump on his social media platform Truth Social and later shared by the official White House accounts, appeared amid the global mourning following Pope Francis’ death and during the preparation for the election of his successor.
Among Catholics and political commentators, the image was widely regarded as offensive and irreverent. Critics argued that it disrespected the Catholic faith and the memory of Pope Francis. Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, described the image as “rather offensive for Catholics” and characterized Trump as “unserious and incapable” in the context of posting such content during a solemn period. The posting drew immediate backlash on X (formerly Twitter), including from conservative Republicans who identified as “pro-democracy” and opposed to Trumpism; this group called the image “a blatant insult to Catholics and a mockery of their faith”. Additionally, Italian former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi condemned the image on X, stating that it offended believers and insulted institutions.
Vatican officials declined to comment directly on the image, with spokesman Matteo Bruni choosing to focus instead on the upcoming conclave to elect the new pope, scheduled to begin shortly after the image circulated. The Vatican’s restrained response highlighted the sensitivity surrounding the situation as the Catholic community awaited the transition of papal leadership.
The controversy surrounding AI-generated images of public figures extended beyond this incident. For example, similar AI content featuring President Trump and Vice President JD Vance circulated on Chinese social media as part of ongoing geopolitical tensions. Meanwhile, notable public figures such as singer Madonna also faced backlash after posting AI-generated images involving Pope Francis, further igniting debates about the ethical use of AI in creating and sharing manipulated images.
Experts and researchers have noted that the rise of AI-generated deepfakes and images contributes to a growing “crisis of truth” in public discourse. Pope Francis himself warned about the potential dangers of AI exacerbating misinformation and confusion about reality. Detection techniques, such as analyzing reflections in the eyes or using algorithms to identify unique facial and vocal patterns, have been developed to combat deepfake impersonations, but the technology remains a challenge for media literacy and authenticity verification.
Cultural and Ethical Implications
The circulation of AI-generated images, particularly those depicting public figures such as former President Donald Trump as Pope Francis, has sparked significant cultural and ethical debates. These images often serve to amplify broader political messages, even when their authenticity is questionable, reflecting the powerful role of context in their dissemination. The use of AI to create such deepfakes has introduced a new dimension to satire and political commentary, with artists like RickDick blending the absurd and unconventional to provoke thought, using figures like the pope as symbolic subjects.
However, these images have also generated controversy and outrage, particularly among religious communities. For instance, the depiction of Trump as the pontiff was condemned by a group of conservative Republicans who described it as “a blatant insult to Catholics and a mockery of their faith”. This reaction underscores the sensitivity around using religious symbolism in political satire and the potential for AI-generated content to offend deeply held beliefs. Despite the uproar, Vatican representatives have chosen not to comment publicly on these AI-created portrayals, emphasizing a cautious approach amid the broader process of electing a new pope.
From a political perspective, AI-generated images are often employed by supporters to mock opponents, functioning as parodies rather than literal representations. The spread of such images fuels online humor and trends, but also blurs the line between satire and misinformation, raising concerns about their impact on public discourse and truth. Pope Francis himself has voiced apprehension about AI’s effects on society, warning at the World Economic Forum about the crisis of truth in the public sphere caused by AI’s ability to produce outputs nearly indistinguishable from human creations.
The increasing prevalence of AI-generated imagery highlights a cultural shift in how media is consumed and interpreted, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and critical evaluation of digital content. As AI continues to evolve, the ethical implications of manipulating images of revered figures and public officials will remain a contentious issue, reflecting broader societal challenges in balancing creative expression with respect and truth.
Controversies and Debates
The AI-generated image of Pope Francis wearing a Balenciaga puffer jacket, which was widely shared and even circulated by former President Donald Trump, sparked significant controversy and debate. Many internet users were initially fooled by the image, highlighting the growing challenge of distinguishing AI-generated content from real photographs. The spread of this image drew criticism from various corners, with some condemning the use of AI in creating misleading visuals that can amplify misinformation and deepen public confusion.
Political commentators and social media users debated the implications of such AI-generated images in the public discourse. For example, a viral post from the account “Republicans Against Trump” criticized the sharing of artificially enhanced images, calling the phenomenon “full-on lunacy” and urging greater responsibility from public figures like Trump to focus on pressing issues rather than propagating misleading content. Meanwhile, Democratic activists accused the sharing of such images of being a distraction from real political concerns.
The incident also raised broader ethical and technological questions about the use and detection of AI-generated imagery. Researchers have developed sophisticated methods to detect deepfakes by analyzing subtle features such as reflections in the eyes and unique facial and vocal mannerisms, but the increasing realism of AI-generated images complicates these efforts. Public figures like Pope Francis have voiced concerns about the unchecked development of AI, highlighting risks to truth and humanity’s future.
Additionally, the legal and copyright implications of AI-generated content remain a subject of debate. While the U.S. Copyright Office currently does not grant copyright protection to AI-generated works, the training data for these tools often include copyrighted images, leading to potential intellectual property disputes. Some AI platforms offer full usage rights to users for commercializing generated images, placing the responsibility for legal compliance largely on the end-users.
The rapid dissemination of such AI-created misinformation has alarmed journalists and commentators, who warn that these developments represent a new frontier of mass-level misinformation. The incident involving the Pope’s image was described as “the first real case” of widespread AI-driven false imagery, underscoring the urgent need for improved public awareness and regulatory oversight. Pope Francis himself has called on leaders across political, economic, and business spheres to maintain close oversight of AI’s development to mitigate these risks.
Impact and Legacy
The sharing of AI-generated images, particularly by high-profile figures such as Donald Trump, has highlighted significant cultural and ethical implications in the realm of digital media. Trump’s use of AI-created imagery, including a notable post depicting himself as the Pope, underscores how artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing political discourse and social media narratives during the 2024 election cycle. This phenomenon illustrates the growing ease with which AI tools can produce plausible yet fabricated visual content, raising questions about authenticity and the manipulation of public perception.
Pope Francis has addressed these concerns directly, warning that the proliferation of AI-generated images contributes to a “crisis of truth” in the public forum. In a message to the World Economic Forum
The content is provided by Avery Redwood, Fact-Nest
