Trump Faces Backlash Over AI-Generated Image Depicting Himself as Jesus

President Donald Trump has removed an AI-generated image from his Truth Social account that depicted him in a Christ-like pose, following widespread criticism from religious leaders and conservative supporters. The image, posted on Sunday, showed Trump in a white robe with a red sash, placing his hand on a man's head in a scene resembling a healing. The post was deleted by Monday morning.

The controversy intensified after Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV, calling him "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy." This series of events drew condemnation from various quarters. Riley Gaines, a conservative commentator, expressed her disapproval on social media, stating she "cannot understand why he'd post this" and emphasizing that "God shall not be mocked." Megan Basham, a writer at the Daily Wire, labeled the post as "OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy" and urged Trump to "take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness."

When questioned about the image, Trump claimed it was intended to portray him as a doctor, not as Jesus. "It's supposed to be me as a doctor making people better," he told reporters. Despite this explanation, the backlash continued, with critics accusing him of blasphemy and narcissism.

Late-night television hosts also addressed the incident. Jon Stewart remarked, "Do you even care about lying to us any more?" highlighting skepticism over Trump's explanation. Stephen Colbert noted the unprecedented nature of Trump's criticism of the pope, stating, "It's never great when someone says, 'You should really be more discreet and respectful. You know, like Hitler.'" Jimmy Kimmel humorously pointed out inconsistencies in the image, joking, "The first problem I see is his hands are normal size. That's not realistic."

The incident has further strained Trump's relationship with religious communities and conservative supporters, raising questions about his use of religious imagery and the potential impact on his political standing.