Trump shares AI image as Jesus Christ, faces backlash as feud with Pope Leo XIV escalates
Donald Trump faces backlash after sharing an AI image of himself as Jesus Christ on Truth Social, as his feud with Pope Leo XIV intensifies
PTC Web Desk: A fresh controversy has erupted after US President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated image portraying himself as Jesus Christ, drawing sharp reactions from religious groups and political observers, even as his supporters defended the post as satire.
The image, posted on Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, showed him in a Christ-like pose with glowing light and symbolic elements commonly associated with Christian art, including a healing scene where he appeared to lay hands on a man, surrounded by figures such as a nurse, a soldier, and others looking on, while the sky featured eagles and an American flag.
The post quickly went viral, triggering mixed reactions across social media platforms, with several Christian organisations and commentators calling it inappropriate and disrespectful, arguing that sacred religious imagery should not be used for political messaging or personal branding, especially when it involves a figure as deeply revered as Jesus Christ.
However, Trump’s supporters dismissed the criticism, claiming that the image was meant to be humorous or symbolic, pointing to the increasing use of artificial intelligence in creating exaggerated and attention-grabbing political content, which often blurs the line between satire and offence.
The controversy comes amid an ongoing war of words between Trump and Pope Leo XIV, whom the US President publicly criticised, saying he is “not a fan” and accusing the pope of being “very liberal” and weak on crime and foreign policy.
Trump’s remarks followed comments by the pope during a prayer service at St Peter's Basilica, where he warned that a “delusion of omnipotence” was fuelling global conflicts, remarks widely interpreted as criticism of US policies, particularly in relation to tensions involving Iran.
Although the pope did not mention Trump or the United States directly, his statements appeared to challenge the justification of war using religious language, stressing that God does not listen to prayers from those who engage in violence.
Responding strongly, Trump accused the pope of interfering in political matters and suggested that he was chosen for his position because of his American background, adding that the Catholic Church was being harmed by what he described as politically driven leadership.
As of now, Trump has not issued any formal clarification regarding the intent behind the AI-generated image, but the post continues to circulate widely.