Backlash, praise over ‘Pope Trump's’ image

US President Donald Trump has posted a seemingly Al generated photo of himself in papal attire on his social media sparking a duelling backlash and praise, Newsweek said Saturday.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

The image, which was also posted from the White House's social media handle, prompted many social media users to call it 'cosplaying as the next Pope' comes days after Trump had jokingly said last week that he would be his own 'number one choice' for the next pope.

In the Vatican, cardinals are set to begin May 7 the process to choose a successor to Pope Francis, who died April 21. The US president was among the world leaders who attended his funeral at St Peter's Square April 26.

The president posted the picture at 10:29 pm Friday, without a caption or comment. “The post immediately garnered positive and negative reaction online,” Newsweek said adding, it reached out to the Vatican via email soon after.