President Donald Trump deleted an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ from his Truth Social account Monday after facing widespread criticism from religious leaders and conservative supporters who called the post blasphemous.

The image showed Trump in flowing red and white robes, touching a sick person's forehead with light emanating from his hand and head. An American flag waved in the background as figures gazed upward in reverence. The post remained visible for more than 12 hours before its removal.

I thought it was me posing as a doctor. It had to do with the Red Cross. It's supposed to be me, as a doctor, healing people, and I do in fact heal people.

Donald Trump — Mercopress

The controversial post emerged during an unprecedented confrontation between Trump and Pope Leo XIV over the ongoing war in Iran. Hours before sharing the image, Trump launched a scathing attack on the pontiff, who has been criticizing the US-Israeli military operation that began February 28.

Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy. I don't want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I'm doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do.

Donald Trump — Mercopress

Pope Leo XIV, born in Chicago and holding dual US-Peruvian citizenship, responded from the papal plane while beginning an 11-day African tour. The pontiff has been vocal in his opposition to what he calls Trump's threat to destroy "an entire civilization."

I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel. We are not politicians. We do not look at foreign policy from the same perspective. Too many innocent people have been killed, and I believe someone must stand up and say that there is a better way.

Pope Leo XIV — Mercopress

Conservative Christians, typically among Trump's strongest supporters, expressed outrage at the Jesus imagery. The backlash highlighted potential fractures in Trump's religious base at a time when some supporters are already questioning the Middle East conflict.

I don't know if the President thought he was being funny or if he is under the influence of some substance or what possible explanation he could have for this OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy. He needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God.

Megan Basham, conservative journalist — Bangkok Post

Trump has increasingly embraced messianic imagery since surviving an assassination attempt in July 2024. His spiritual advisor Paula White-Cain recently compared him to Jesus during an Easter White House event, noting how both were "betrayed and arrested and falsely accused."

The president also escalated his attacks on Pope Leo XIV, claiming the pontiff was elected solely because of his nationality and asserting that "If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican." The US Conference of Catholic Bishops rejected these remarks as inappropriate attacks on the Holy Father.