Living in Trump's world | ECFR

Donald Trump just retaliated against prominent American Cardinal Timothy Dolan after Dolan criticized him over his offensive pope post.

In a dramatic escalation of tensions between President Donald Trump and the Catholic Church, the former president has launched a pointed response to Cardinal Timothy Dolan following the cardinal’s criticism of an AI-generated image depicting Trump as the Pope.

Cardinal Dolan reacts to Trump’s AI pope photo: ‘It wasn’t good’

The controversy began when an AI-generated image of Donald Trump dressed as the Pope was shared on Trump’s Truth Social account and subsequently reposted by the White House’s official social media accounts.

The image, which surfaced shortly after Pope Francis’s funeral, was met with widespread criticism from Catholic leaders, including Cardinal Dolan, who described it as a “brutta figura” (embarrassment).

The New York State Catholic Conference condemned the image, stating it was neither funny nor clever.

It wasn't good': Cardinal gives reaction on Trump's post of himself as pope

In a series of public statements, President Trump has sharply criticized Cardinal Dolan’s remarks.

He accused the cardinal of lacking a sense of humor and suggested that Dolan’s comments were politically motivated.

Trump also questioned Dolan’s loyalty to the Catholic community, implying that the cardinal’s criticism was out of step with the views of many Catholics.

This marks a significant departure from Trump’s previous cordial relationship with Dolan, who had been a vocal supporter during Trump’s presidency.

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The fallout from this exchange has reverberated beyond the realm of social media.

Cardinal Dolan’s criticism has been supported by various Catholic organizations, while Trump’s retaliatory remarks have drawn condemnation from religious leaders and political analysts alike.

This incident underscores the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and religious institutions, particularly concerning issues of respect and decorum.

As the situation develops, all eyes are on Cardinal Dolan and other Catholic leaders to see how they will respond to Trump’s accusations.

The outcome of this dispute could have lasting implications for the relationship between the Catholic Church and political figures, influencing public perceptions and future interactions.