Trump Responds to Backlash Over AI Image of Himself as Jesus
President Donald Trump has issued a response after facing online backlash over the weekend after posting an AI generated photo depicting himself as Jesus Christ.
The post, which has since been deleted, shows Trump healing a male patient in a hospital bed while he was surrounded by nurses, veterans, and active duty soldiers. Additionally, the image included several images in the sky, including the American flag, the statue of liberty, and the Lincoln memorial”, The Mirror reported.
Trump’s post depicting himself as Jesus follows a lengthy rant about Pope Leo, whom the president described as someone who is "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy."
"Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump wrote in part. "He talks about 'fear' of the Trump Administration, but doesn't mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart."
Trump also commended Pope Leo’s brother for his support of MAGA and further criticized the pope regarding foreign policy.
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country. And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History.
Later in his post, the president took credit as why Leo was elected as the pope last year.
"Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn't on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump," the president wrote. "If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican."
“Unfortunately, Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left, who is one of those who wanted churchgoers and clerics to be arrested. Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!” Trump concluded.
Trump’s post was criticized as blasphemous by conservative Christians and church leaders online.
“I don’t know if the President thought he was being funny or if he is under the influence of some substance or what possible explanation he could have for this OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy. But he needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God,” wrote journalist and New York Times bestselling author Megan Basham.
Pastor and YouTuber Matthew Everhard, who leads Gospel Fellowship (PCA), wrote, “Disgusting. Blasphemy.
“Donald Trump’s biggest religious enemy isn’t the Pope. It’s Jesus,” wrote Christian blogger Samuel Sey.
When asked about the image by Fox News, Trump acknowledged he posted it but thought the depiction was a doctor of himself healing people.
“How did they come up with that? It's supposed to be me as a doctor making people better, and I do make people better and make people a lot better,” he contended.
"I did post it and I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with Red Cross as a Red Cross worker there, which we support. And only the fake news could come up with that one."
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Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Brandon Bell/Staff
Originally published April 13, 2026.
