Trump, the Pope, and AI Jesus Walk Into a Room…

Religion

Trump, the Pope, and AI Jesus Walk Into a Room…

What’s going on: This may sound like a sacrilegious joke, but it’s actually a whole thing… Over the weekend, President Donald Trump got into a war of words with none other than Pope Leo XIV. It all started when the head of the Catholic Church called the Iran War “unjust.” The comment clearly struck a nerve with Trump. He described the American pope as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” while criticizing his stance on nuclear weapons. (Does it surprise anyone that the pope is anti-nukes?) Leo, who reiterated his message of peace, invoked the Gospel and turned the other cheek. Things only escalated on Sunday night when the president posted an AI-generated image of himself as… Jesus. Mic drop? Not exactly. The internet went Old Testament on Trump, who eventually deleted the image and offered an explanation that only raised more questions.

They say the Lord works in mysterious ways: Trump has long enjoyed the support of conservative Christians. (Who can forget this prayer event at the Oval Office?) But the president as AI Jesus appears to have crossed a line with his base. The backlash also highlights growing friction among his supporters, many of whom are already unhappy with inflation and US foreign policy. And while Trump’s other AI images have stirred controversy, this one is being called “blasphemy.” Even Iran’s president weighed in. As for Pope Leo XIV? He doubled down on his anti-war stance and said, “I’m not afraid of the Trump administration.”

Related: The Other AI Jesus Would Like a Word… (Associated Press)

The News in 5

🗞️ Amid the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump issued another warning. And yes, oil prices are feeling all of it.

🗞️ Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX) both say they will leave office after separate sexual misconduct allegations.

🗞️ A judge scrapped President Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal’s reporting on Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday book (yes, the one with that doodle).

🗞️ One actress says it took her two decades to feel confident enough to come forward with sexual assault allegations against Katy Perry. Perry denies the accusation. 

🗞️ The Federal Aviation Administration’s new plan to fix its air controller shortage (and flight delays) is actually kind of brilliant. Time to demand an apology from your parents. 

Care

The Other Kind of Doula

What’s going on: Nicole Kidman is ready for a very different kind of role — one that’s both personal and transformational, depending on how you look at it. The Oscar winner shared she’s training to become a death doula after losing her mom in 2024, according to NBC News. “As my mother was passing, she was lonely… there was only so much the family could provide,” she said, per The San Francisco Chronicle. Between careers, kids, and caregiving, Kidman said she hit a point where she saw what was missing: someone whose only role is to be there. “I wish there [were] these people… to sit impartially and just provide solace and care,” Kidman said. And she isn’t alone in that thinking. Interest in death doulas, or end-of-life doulas, has grown — and it’s getting more attention lately, including in a recent storyline on The Pitt. 

Wait, what do they do?: Death doulas aren’t doctors or nurses, and they don’t provide medical care — they provide emotional support. They can sit with your loved one, help you understand what to expect, talk through end-of-life plans, coordinate small logistics, or even just be there so you’re not doing it alone. But you should know the fine print: There’s no single license or certification, and this kind of support often isn’t covered by insurance. If you’re not sure where to start, national end-of-life doula organizations offer directories and scope of practices. You can also turn to hospice, hospital, or palliative care teams for other options that might be more financially realistic. Social workers, respite care, volunteers, and support groups can connect caregivers with others going through the same experience.

Related: How To Help Your Aging Parents Plan for What’s Next  (The New York Times Gift Link)

Political Gossip

TMZ DC Is Here

What’s going on: It’s not your favorite pop star whose private jet usage is catching tabloid attention: It’s the former secretary of homeland security’s. And TMZ DC is ready to Capitol-ize on all of the political drama. The blog is the latest brainchild of the infamous tabloid. While the site is new, politicians have been on TMZ’s radar for some time — even crowdsourcing “spring break” photos from the public as TSA lines stretched miles long. We all remember that photo of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) at Disney World, and Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) must’ve had fun planning a Real Housewives of Rhode Island watch party. Some staffers are a little too happy to see their bosses and ex-bosses in TMZ’s spotlight. As one person told Politico, they’re in “for a rude awakening.”

Give us a snapshot: TMZ isn’t exactly inventing the rotunda here. The Drudge Report, which began reporting on DC gossip in the ‘90s, was famously the first source to break the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. And news and gossip sites alike regularly report on politicians’ extramarital affairs and scandals (just look at the breadth of publications covering Bryon Noem’s “bimbo” photos). Gossip writers have actually covered politicians’ indiscretions as far back as 1500 BC (yes, really). With the reality-TV-to-politics pipeline in full swing, we’re honestly kind of surprised TMZ DC took this long to launch. At least this Deuxmoi fan finally has somewhere to submit their tips.

Related: The Actual Real Housewives Have Thoughts On Congress's Behavior (The New York Times Gift Link)

Quick Hits

🤧 No more “gesundheit”: Research suggests this drink can help us sneeze less. If only we’d known this at the start of pollen season… 

🧓 Naturalmente, “nonnamaxxing” is the type of lifestyle we can get behind. 

🫐 These 16 superfoods don’t lose their “super” just because you store them in the freezer. Number 12 might be a game-changer.

🧀 A childhood classic meal is back in the girl dinner rotation. Bonus points for eating it right out of the pot. 

💻 There actually is something in your “office air,” and it’s messing with your makeup.

🏀 The women showed out at the WNBA draft, but the top pick’s outfit really raised the bar.

On Our Calendar

Things to jot down today…

🗓️ Jury selection begins in Harvey Weinstein’s third rape trial in New York.

🗓️ It’s Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s — and they want to give away a million and one scoops.

Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.

Know It All

Coachella may be the influencer Olympics, but this icon made her performance debut as part of a new collab…

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Erika W. Smith, Mallory Simon, Molly Longman, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.