The Daily Populous Sunday May 4th, 2025 evening edition
Authored by thedailybeast.com and submitted by throwaway16830261

Even President Donald Trump‘s staunchly loyal MAGA base appeared to turn against the Republican president for posting an AI-generated image of himself as pope.

Trump shared the image in a Friday night Truth Social post after telling reporters that he “would like to be Pope.” He quipped that he was his own “No. 1 choice” to replace the late Pope Francis. However, some MAGA believers felt that not even Trump is above the papacy.

This is worse than trolling. You’re going to lose a lot of Catholic support over stunts like this. — Amity (@amitylee13) May 3, 2025

“This is worse than trolling. You’re going to lose a lot of Catholic support over stunts like this,” wrote an X commentator who described themself as a Catholic and a conservative.

Another commentator on X added: “I love Trump but find his Pope meme disrespectful and insulting. God will not be mocked. Not a wise decision. That said I pray for him. I pray for America.”

I love Trump but find his Pope meme disrespectful and insulting. God will not be mocked. Not a wise decision

That said I pray for him. I pray for America. ✝️🇺🇸📿🙏 — Oklahoma Gamgee ✝️ (@cigar_vet) May 3, 2025

Anthony Scaramucci, Trump’s former White House communications director and a practicing Catholic, also slammed the president’s “stupidity.”

“Yes I get. You are trolling and trying to trigger all of us. Especially us Catholics,” Scaramucci wrote. “But the arrogance and general stupidity and the disgrace that you represent will blow back on all of you.”

Vice President JD Vance appeared to brush off the “joke” with a spurious message about “stupid wars.”

“As a general rule, I’m fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen,” he wrote.

As a general rule, I'm fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen. https://t.co/2WQPsofVIH — JD Vance (@JDVance) May 3, 2025

Another commentator on X added: “Mr. President—please cease this offensive and sacrilegious behavior,” with others questioning how such a “satire” would play if the shoe were on the other foot.

“This is not funny. This is not satire. This is EXTREMELY DISRESPECTFUL towards catholics. Shows poor judgement,” tweeted X user Juan Santana. “Would you do a similar joke with other religions’ leaders? Shocked. I was hoping both @realDonaldTrump and @WhiteHouse had been hacked, but it seems not.”

I voted for you and I'm disgusted — Maria Gerardy (@APGerardy) May 3, 2025

Yet other MAGA Catholics appeared to double down on their support.

“Nope!!! Didn’t lose me!!! I LOVE the humor and trolling @potus does of all the Libtards and Democrats!!!!” wrote a commentator.

Another X commentator added, “It’s a joke. It is not even an offensive joke, and I’m Catholic.”

NinjaLanternShark on May 4th, 2025 at 09:08 UTC »

Sorry, no "MAGA" did not "melt down" over this. A few people tweeted their mild concern. That's it. It's been demonstrated over and over -- there is no bottom. He is, ironically given his situation, infallible in their eyes.

> Shows poor judgement,” tweeted X user Juan Santana. “Would you do a similar joke with other religions’ leaders?

You're joking right? He would absolutely insult any one and any religion at any moment. There's no red line.

Azmtbkr on May 4th, 2025 at 08:37 UTC »

Cruelly rounding up people and sending them to foreign death camps? Totally fine.

Cosplaying as Pope? An unforgivable sin!

wagonboss on May 4th, 2025 at 08:22 UTC »

I think the saddest thing about this is, he’s completely serious.