President Donald Trump is facing a wave of backlash after he posted an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus.
Trump, 79, took to his Truth Social page on Sunday, April 12, to share an image of himself in the style of a painting. The image showed the president wearing a white-and-red robe as he rested one hand on the head of a man appearing to be in a hospital bed. A ball of light hovered above Trump’s other hand, seemingly implying that he has the power to heal someone.
The background of the image contained patriotic imagery, including the Statue of Liberty, fireworks and an American flag. Trump was also surrounded by four people praying and watching him, including a nurse and a man in Army gear.
The post was seemingly removed from Trump’s page on Monday, April 13.
Trump’s AI photo came shortly after he shared a message taking aim at Pope Leo XIV.
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” he wrote. “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 claimed he likes Leo’s brother Louis Martín Prevost “much better” because Prevost is “all MAGA.” He added that he doesn’t want a pope “who criticizes the President of the United States.”
“As everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise,” Trump wrote of Leo, 70. “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. If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
In response to the post, Leo told reporters on Monday, “I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do.”
Keep scrolling to see how politicians and more have reacted to the AI image:
Riley Gaines
Conservative podcaster and former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines wrote via X, “Why? Seriously, I cannot understand why he’d post this. Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this?”
Gaines continued, “Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God shall not be mocked.”
Senator Mark Kelly
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly shared Donald Trump’s rant about Pope Leo XIV and wrote, “As a Catholic, I find it abhorrent that the President of the United States would publicly attack the Successor of St. Peter. Donald Trump is flailing.”
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former Georgia representative and former supporter of Donald Trump, wrote via X, “On Orthodox Easter, President Trump attacked the Pope because the Pope is rightly against Trump’s war in Iran and then he posted this picture of himself as if he is replacing Jesus.”
Greene continued, “This comes after last week’s post of his evil tirade on Easter and then threatening to kill an entire civilization. I completely denounce this and I’m praying against it!!!”
Piers Morgan
“This has gone down very badly with many of Trump’s biggest cheerleaders,” wrote British broadcaster Piers Morgan while sharing a repost of the AI image. “He seems to be on a mission to piss off absolutely everyone, for reasons that are beyond my understanding given his current approval numbers.”
Maria Shriver
In response to Donald Trump’s post about Pope Leo XIV, former first lady of California Maria Shriver wrote, “The President of the United States attacking the Pope. You can’t make this up.”
Sunny Hostin
Sunny Hostin and her cohosts on The View discussed the AI image during Monday’s episode. Hostin argued that the administration should invoke the 25th Amendment, which ensures that the United States will always have a functioning president and vice president.
