This photo illustration, created on April 13, 2026, shows a photo of US President Donald Trump on a screen and an AI-generated photo he posted on his Truth social platform portraying himself as Jesus Christ after criticizing Pope Leo XIV.
Mandel Ngan | AFP | getty images
President Donald Trump’s Truth Social account removed an image of Trump looking like Jesus Christ on Monday morning after it faced criticism.
Trump’s account posted the image, which appears to have been generated by artificial intelligence, on Sunday night, after the president criticized Pope Leo XIV for criticizing US military actions against Iran and Venezuela.
The image depicts Trump, dressed in white, placing his right hand over a sick or dying person, with a bright light emanating from the president’s left hand, and the American flag, eagle, and military aircraft flying behind him.
The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC seeking comment about the post’s removal.
Megan Basham, a conservative Christian commentator, wrote, “I don’t know whether the President thought he was joking or whether he was under the influence of some substance or what possible explanation he could have for this outrageous blasphemy.” A post about Image on X.
“But he needs to immediately retract it and apologize to the American people and then to God,” Basham wrote.
The post was one of a series of posts posted on Trump’s Truth social account Sunday night. The image stood alone without any accompanying words.
Former Republican Congresswoman marjorie taylor greenWho has been an ally of Trump. in your post on x Wrote, “On Orthodox Easter, President Trump attacked the Pope because the Pope is absolutely against Trump’s war in Iran and then he posted this photo of himself as if he were replacing Jesus.”
“This comes after his evil insults and then post on Easter last week threatening to kill an entire civilization. I condemn it completely and I am praying against it!!!” Green wrote.
In May 2025, Trump posted an image showing himself as the Catholic Pope following the death of Pope Francis.
was blasted by the President New York State Catholic ConferenceWhich represents the bishops of the state for that term.
The conference said, “There is nothing clever or funny about this image.” Post On X. “We have just buried our beloved Pope Francis and are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor to Cardinal St. Peter. Don’t make fun of us.”