Photo / X
US President Donald Trump’s posting of an image that appeared to depict him as Jesus drew rare criticism from the religious right, prompting allegations of blasphemy and calls for him to take down the post before it was deleted.
Shortly after posting a screed against Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night as he returned to Washington from Florida, Trump shared an image that appeared to be AI-generated in the style of a painting, depicting him in a long white tunic with an additional red garment draped around his shoulders. In one hand was an orb glowing with light; Trump’s other hand rested on the forehead of a man in what resembled a hospital bed – light beaming from the man’s head as Trump appeared to pray for his healing. Patriotic symbols, including an eagle, fireworks and the Statue of Liberty, filled the frame.
Unlike the post criticising Leo, whom Trump later said he didn’t like and is too “liberal”, the image evoking Jesus drew swift criticism from some evangelical Christians and conservative Catholics who have otherwise expressed near constant support for Trump’s decisions.
“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,” wrote Megan Basham, a prominent conservative Protestant Christian writer and commentator. “But he needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Trump’s intent in posting the image. Following the backlash and after appearing on the President’s Truth Social account for more than 12 hours, the image was deleted.
Asked about the post Monday afternoon, Trump said he posted it.
“I thought it was me as a doctor, and had to do with Red Cross, as a Red Cross worker, which we support,” Trump said. In the photo, Trump’s clothing is reminiscent of clothing worn in Jesus’ time and does not appear to be an outfit a modern doctor would wear. There is no reference in the photo to the Red Cross.
“It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better,” Trump continued. “And I do make people better. I make people a lot better.”
Trump said “only the fake news” could suggest he was depicting himself as Jesus, ignoring the criticism he received from his own religious supporters.
The President last year posted an image of him as Pope that appeared to be AI-generated.
One administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to criticise the President’s post, predicted that conservative Christian outrage would dissipate in a matter of days as it often has. But the official said it was going too far for Trump to post such an image of himself, even though some of his most loyal MAGA supporters have cast him in quasi-messianic terms.
“Other people at these Trump rallies do it for him, but when you do it yourself, … it’s sacrilegious at best,” the official said.
In the Christian faith, blasphemy – speech or actions showing lack of reverence or outright disrespect to God – is a sin. Trump, who identifies as a Christian but does not claim to regularly pray, read the Bible or attend church, has enormous support from conservative Christians.
Others like Basham publicly condemned the post. Isabel Brown, a Catholic podcaster with the Daily Wire outlet and a conservative influencer allied with the Trump White House, spoke out against it.
“This post is, frankly, disgusting and unacceptable, but also a profound misreading of the American people experiencing a true and beautiful revival of faith in Christ in the midst of our broken culture,” Brown wrote.
Michael Knowles, another conservative Catholic podcaster aligned with Trump, said online it “behoves the President both spiritually and politically to delete the picture, no matter the intent”.
Riley Gaines, a conservative podcaster, former collegiate swimmer and prominent critic of transgender participation in women’s sports who spoke at Trump rallies and was recently a guest at the White House, also criticised the post. “I cannot understand why he’d post this. Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this? Either way, two things are true,” Gaines wrote on X, continuing to say that “a little humility would serve him well” and “God shall not be mocked” – a reference to scripture.
The image and the subsequent reaction echoed a Truth Social post Trump ultimately deleted earlier this year, a video that at the end briefly showed Barack and Michelle Obama depicted as apes. The post was deleted after roughly 12 hours, but not before the White House press secretary dismissed criticism and urged the news media to “stop the fake outrage”.
The latest post was taken down during a scheduled meeting of Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, which was set to feature several high-profile, Trump-appointed Christian leaders. They include Paula White-Cain, Trump’s spiritual adviser, the Reverend Franklin Graham, Bishop Robert Barron and Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Trump formed the commission last year by executive order to advise the White House Faith Office.
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