Washington, United States. U.S. President Donald Trump reposted an apparently AI-generated image of Jesus embracing him on Wednesday, two days after he deleted a post that drew criticism over comparisons to Jesus.
Image and captions on Truth Social
The image reposted to Trump’s Truth Social account shows Trump with his eyes closed, touching temple-to-temple with a similarly posed Jesus. Trump is standing behind a microphone, and behind him is an American flag. The original post carried the caption: “I was never a very religious man .. but doesn’t it seem, with all these satanic, demonic, child sacrificing monsters being exposed … that God might be playing his Trump card!”
Trump’s repost added the caption: “The Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice!!!”
Dispute with Pope Leo
Trump has been feuding with Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born leader of the Catholic Church and an outspoken critic of the war that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Trump reiterated his criticism of the religious leader on Tuesday night. In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump urged that “someone please tell Pope Leo” about the killings of protesters by Iran and that “for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable.”
Comments from JD Vance and Pope Leo
On Tuesday evening, Vice President JD Vance, speaking at the University of Georgia, said the pope was wrong to say that disciples of Christ are “never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs” and that “it’s very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology.”
Leo said in response to Trump’s previous attacks that he had “no fear” of the Trump administration and would continue to speak out. In a speech on Monday in Algiers, he denounced “neocolonial” world powers who he said were violating international law, without singling out specific countries.
Political context
Christian voters have formed a critical part of Trump’s political base. Trump, who does not attend church regularly, won large majorities of Christian voters in the 2024 election, including Catholics.
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