The internet has brought us countless forms of entertainment — from TikTok trends to adorable cat videos and endless memes. But in this era dominated by artificial intelligence, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between what’s real and what’s digitally altered.
Following the recent pa.ss.ing of Pope Francis, a video involving him and Donald Trump has resurfaced and gone viral once again, sparking heated debates online about its authenticity.
The widely shared clip appears to show Pope Francis swatting away Trump’s hand as the former president tries to touch the Pope’s fingers. The video even features a CNN logo at the bottom, suggesting it was broadcast by the news outlet.
However, The Dispatch Fact Check confirmed that the footage is fake. A CNN spokesperson stated clearly that the clip was fabricated. To clarify, journalist Daniel Baldwin shared the original CNN footage from March 2017, showing Trump’s real visit to the Vatican, during which no such hand-swatting incident occurred.
The viral video actually stems from a comedic skit aired on Jimmy Kimmel Live that parodied the real 2017 meeting between Trump and the Pope. The moment depicting the Pope brushing Trump’s hand away was added as part of the show’s satirical monologue.
Despite its comedic origins, the video has confused many social media users, prompting a flurry of questions and speculation.
Some asked if the clip was genuine, while others hoped it was real simply because it was so entertaining. One user exclaimed, “Wait a second… are you telling me this actually happened? This isn’t edited? It’s real?” Another begged, “Please let this be real.”
Many users turned to Grok, the AI assistant available on X (formerly Twitter), to get clarity. Grok confirmed the video was not authentic, explaining it was part of a 2017 comedy bit from Jimmy Kimmel Live. The original footage from the Vatican meeting didn’t contain the dramatic hand interaction.
One user even added a more detailed explanation: “The meeting definitely happened, but the hand moment was added later for a joke during Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue. Hilarious, yes — but not real.” Another person humorously replied, “Thanks! You explained it better than AI did.”
While many enjoyed the clip for its humor, others expressed disappointment upon learning the truth.
One fan commented, “I laugh every time I see it — it looks like something siblings would do.”
Amid the viral video frenzy, it’s worth noting that Vice President JD Vance met with Pope Francis the day before his death. The content of their conversation has since been disclosed, as Catholics across the world enter a period of mourning.
As the Church prepares to select the next pope, eyes will turn once again to the Vatican, watching for either black or white smoke to signal whether a new leader has been chosen.
