Donald Trump has been called “a clown” for posting an image of himself as the pope.The AI-generated picture caused anger ahead of this week’s gathering of cardinals to choose a new leader of the 1.4-billion-strong Catholic Church.

Trump recently joked he would like to be the pope as the Vatican prepares to vote for the next pontiff following Pope Francis’ death last month.

ROME -U.S. Cardinal Timothy Dolan said on Sunday that President Donald Trump’s posting of an AI-generated photo showing himself as the pope "wasn’t good" but declined to say whether the White House should apologise to offended Catholics.