# Donald Trump and the Sede Vacante **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [April 27, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565 "2025-04-27T15:10:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/41 "2025-05-03T14:47:43Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > This is a real post from The White House official Xitter account today: Here’s an article about it. > **[Trump posts image of himself as pope on Truth Social. Critics erupt](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-truth-social-pope-b2744196.html)** > > President’s post comes days after he joked ‘I’d like to be Pope... that would be my number one choice’ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/42 "2025-05-03T15:39:42Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > You don’t think that sort of image would rile up conservative Catholics? You know, the ones who actually have deep reverence for the office of the papacy? For the office of the Papacy. These are the same ones who say that the Pope himself has no authority; the authority is all in the Office. Just like how we shouldn’t criticize Trump, because that’s an attack on the dignity of the Office of the President. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/43 "2025-05-03T16:27:18Z")
The Religious Right has no issues voting for a guy who cheats on his wife with porn stars, rapist, liar, scam artist grifter, user of profanity who celebrates violence, etc if it means stopping abortion, hurting LGBT causes and funneling tax money to religious schools. None of them have any personal religious ethics beyond what allows them to exert power. No one is going to give a shit if Trump makes some dumbfuck comments or memes about being Pope. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/44 "2025-05-03T17:11:48Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > While beneath the dignity of the office Is there any dignity left? Yes, rhetorical question… That’s not going to work out well for the Catholic vote, although as a lapsed Catholic I don’t know how well anti-popes are regarded these days. Also it strikes me that Catholics are far more likely to be conservative - maybe thats just my experience in a far away country. My very Catholic father’s side of of our family, particularly my uncle and aunt who live in the US, and their two children were never likely to vote Trump, but this would absolutely cement a vote for anyone else. This is idolatory. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/45 "2025-05-03T17:17:11Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > Looks like it was reposted from his personal “Truth” Social account. This is 100% Trump. Do you honestly believe Trump has mastered Photoshop? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/46 "2025-05-03T17:40:09Z")
Don’t need no stinkin’ Photoshop. Trump probably had that costume made to order for himself. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/47 "2025-05-03T18:10:48Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Do you honestly believe Trump has mastered Photoshop? I was going to reply to this, but @ThelmaLou probably has the right answer. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/48 "2025-05-03T20:55:26Z")
The question of who created or posted that image is different from the question of who’s responsible for it. The image was almost certainly created by some intern, and it might well have been posted by that intern, too. It doesn’t matter. Trump is still 100% responsible for it, because it’s posted on his own personal account, under his own name, and he has full control over who has access to that. This whole notion of responsibility is something that Republicans in general struggle with. Let’s do better than them. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/49 "2025-05-03T21:56:17Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > This whole notion of responsibility is something that Republicans in general struggle with. Let’s do better than them. I’m not saying Trump isn’t responsible for what’s posted on his (or the White House) accounts. I’m saying I can’t muster getting all hepped up over obvious rage bait created by some 20 year old Musk acolyte. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/50 "2025-05-04T00:05:38Z")
Here’s a pretty comprehensive story about what I’ll just go ahead and call “Popegate.” TL;DR Catholics who aren’t MAGA are pissed, MAGA Catholics wave it off with, “It’s a joke,” and somehow Lindsay Graham makes everything worse. > **[Trump draws criticism with AI image of himself as the pope ahead of the papal...](https://apnews.com/article/trump-pope-francis-conclave-ai-image-bishops-9d88286886c350c4465f7c2afb7a5e41)** > > President Donald Trump has posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as pope. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/51 "2025-05-04T00:12:48Z")
Do you honestly believe he wouldn’t have it done for him? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/52 "2025-05-04T02:06:58Z")
What I honestly believe, sarcasm aside, is that unless Trump specifically wants something posted, he doesn’t really care what his flunky is posting on Truth Social or X, beyond a general desire to get clicks. And if the flunky guesses wrong and posts something that embarrasses his Donaldness, there’s a new flunky ready to step in. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/53 "2025-05-04T02:19:05Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > And if the flunky guesses wrong and posts something that embarrasses his Donaldness, there’s a new flunky ready to step in. I’ve heard that Trump is big on firing people. I think the flunkies have heard the same and are careful not to act without a clear OK from the big guy. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/54 "2025-05-04T02:31:45Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > That’s not going to work out well for the Catholic vote, although as a lapsed Catholic I don’t know how well anti-popes are regarded these days. Disagree. Trump is an expert at pushing the Overton window. This kind of thing just gives him more transgressive street cred. A big recession will be a problem for Trump. But him making offensive statements? No. Can a Democratic politician get away with comparable sacrilege? No. Life is unfair. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/55 "2025-05-04T07:32:58Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > MAGA Catholics wave it off with, “It’s a joke,” Hilarious. I suggest that he do Muhammad next. C’mon Donny, I dare you. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/56 "2025-05-04T09:35:25Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > …and somehow Lindsay Graham makes everything worse. This is just a universal maxim. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/57 "2025-05-04T14:59:07Z")
Something that just occurred to me about those pictures of Trump as the Pope. Maybe he’s just confused and is wearing the wrong pointy white hat. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/58 "2025-05-04T18:05:04Z")
At least he’s not wearing a brown suit. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/59 "2025-05-04T18:22:07Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I’ve heard that Trump is big on firing people. Actually no. Firing people is scary, and he doesn’t do scary. He tells other people to fire people. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565/60 "2025-05-05T19:54:36Z")
Trump’s response to the Papal Picture: > [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-sede-vacante/1017565.md?page=2)