Trump deletes post depicting him as Jesus-like figure after backlash
Trump Removes Controversial Post Portraying Him as Jesus-like Figure Amid Pushback
US President Donald Trump has taken down an image on his Truth Social platform that depicted him as a figure resembling Jesus, following criticism from across the political divide. The AI-generated graphic showed Trump in a white robe, with a radiant hand placed on the forehead of a hospitalized man, evoking imagery of divine healing. The visual prompted sharp reactions, even from loyal supporters, as it was interpreted as a symbolic representation of spiritual authority.
The image appeared shortly after Trump posted a detailed critique of Pope Leo XIV, whom he accused of being lenient on crime and ineffective in foreign affairs. Trump later confirmed the photo was shared by him, initially claiming it showed him as a physician. He described the scene as a depiction of a doctor aiding a patient, emphasizing his belief in the image’s message: “I make people a lot better.” However, detractors argued the composition closely mirrored traditional depictions of Christ.
“There’s no context where this is acceptable,” said Sean Feucht, a Christian activist involved in organizing faith-based events for the US Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary. He called for the image to be removed immediately, adding that it misrepresented religious symbolism.
Riley Gaines, a well-known conservative figure, echoed the criticism, stating, “God shall not be mocked.” Faith-focused media outlets also voiced concerns, with David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network asserting, “This goes too far. It crosses the line,” and urging supporters to reject the imagery.
The post was removed within an hour of a separate message from Trump targeting Pope Leo XIV, who has been a vocal opponent of the US and Israeli actions in Iran. The Pope, the first American to hold the title, has consistently criticized the conflict, calling it “absurd and inhuman violence.” Despite this, Trump defended his stance, noting, “Pope Leo said things that are wrong. He was very much against what I’m doing with regard to Iran, and you cannot have a nuclear Iran.”
Earlier this year, Trump’s Truth Social account faced similar scrutiny when a racist video portraying Barack and Michelle Obama as apes was posted. The White House initially dismissed it as an “internet meme video” and asked critics to “stop the fake outrage.” After backlash from Republican senators, the post was deleted, with an official acknowledging the error was “erroneously” made by a staff member.
