After a lot of criticism, especially from important conservative Christian allies, US President Donald Trump took down an AI-generated image of himself as a Christ-like figure.
The picture, which was posted on Trump’s social media site Truth Social, showed him in flowing robes with holy light coming from his hands as he seemed to be healing a man in a hospital bed. The post instantly made people angry, especially religious groups that called it rude and wrong.
Conservative intellectuals and media figures were among the critics who questioned the post’s purpose. Some called it “blasphemous” and called for it to be taken down right now. Even well-known supporters of Trump spoke out, which is an unusual sign of disagreement from his base.
Later, Trump defended the post, saying it wasn’t meant to make him look like Jesus Christ, but rather a doctor “making people better.” He also said that the picture was meant to be funny, but it didn’t connect with a lot of people.
The argument happened when Trump and Pope Leo XIV were still arguing verbally. The US president had called the pope “weak on crime” earlier. The pope, on the other hand, has spoken out against wars around the world and what he called poor political leadership.
The response went beyond the media to Trump’s own platform, as users who usually supported him also voiced their dissatisfaction. The picture had been shared online months before it was changed and shared again.
Vice President JD Vance downplayed the issue by saying that the message was a joke that many didn’t get.
The event has led to a wider discussion about how to utilize AI in political messaging and how sensitive religious imagery may be, especially in a time when politics and culture are quite divided.
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