Hegseth-linked pastor knocks Trump over AI Jesus image: ‘He has to do better’

The Hill
by Tara Suter
April 14, 2026
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2 min read

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A pastor linked to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized President Trump for an AI image depicting him as Jesus.

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A pastor linked to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized President Trump regarding an artificial intelligence (AI) image that appeared to depict the president as Jesus Christ. President Trump had stated the image showed him as a doctor healing people. The pastor expressed relief that Trump deleted the image and rejected the portrayal. This incident highlights religious sensitivities surrounding the use of AI imagery involving political figures.

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Trump's Controversial AI Jesus Image and Pope Leo Feud

President Trump faced widespread criticism and backlash for posting an AI-generated image depicting him as a Jesus-like figure on social media. This incident coincided with a public feud between Trump and Pope Leo XIV, where the Pope responded to Trump's criticisms by stating he had 'no fear' of the administration.

Trump's AI Image as Jesus and Feud with Pope Leo

President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, which he later claimed was meant to portray him as a doctor. This incident, combined with his public criticisms of Pope Leo XIV, has drawn widespread criticism and sparked debate about his behavior and religious commentary.

Trump's Feud with Pope Leo XIV and AI Jesus Image

President Donald Trump engaged in a public feud with Pope Leo XIV, criticizing the pontiff's stance on the Iran conflict. This was further complicated by Trump sharing an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, drawing widespread criticism from religious leaders and the public.

Trump's Feud with Pope Leo XIV and AI Jesus Image Controversy

President Donald Trump engaged in a public feud with Pope Leo XIV, criticizing the pontiff and later posting an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure. This sparked widespread criticism and debate, particularly among Catholic voters.

Trump's Feud with Pope Leo XIV and AI Jesus Image

President Trump engaged in a public feud with Pope Leo XIV, criticizing the pontiff for his comments on the war in Iran. Amidst this, Trump posted and later deleted an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, which drew widespread criticism and further controversy.

Trump's Feud with Pope Leo and AI Image Backlash

President Trump has engaged in a public feud with Pope Leo XIV, criticizing the pontiff for his views on the Iran war. This controversy was further fueled by Trump posting and later deleting an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, drawing widespread condemnation from Christian conservatives and Catholic leaders.

Trump's Feud with Pope Leo XIV and AI Image Controversy

President Trump engaged in a public feud with Pope Leo XIV, criticizing the pontiff as 'weak' and 'terrible for foreign policy.' The controversy intensified when Trump posted, then deleted, an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, drawing widespread criticism and accusations of blasphemy from Christian conservatives.

Trump's Feud with Pope Leo XIV and Jesus-like Image

President Trump engaged in a public feud with Pope Leo XIV, criticizing the pontiff's stance on the Iran war. This controversy was further fueled by Trump posting and later deleting an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, drawing significant backlash from Christian conservatives and others.

Trump's Feud with Pope Leo XIV and AI Image Controversy

President Trump has engaged in a public feud with Pope Leo XIV, criticizing the pontiff's stance on the Iran conflict. This dispute was exacerbated by Trump posting and later deleting an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, drawing widespread criticism.

Trump's Feud with Pope Leo and AI Image Controversy

President Donald Trump has engaged in a public feud with Pope Leo XIV, criticizing the pontiff's stance on U.S. foreign policy and the war in Iran. This controversy was further fueled by Trump posting and then deleting an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, drawing widespread backlash.

Trump's Feud with Pope Leo and Jesus Image Controversy

President Trump's social media post depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, coupled with an escalating feud with Pope Leo XIV, has sparked widespread controversy. The image, later deleted, drew criticism from religious leaders and political figures alike, highlighting deep-rooted tensions between the Trump administration and the Vatican.

Trump's Feud with Pope Leo and 'Jesus' Image Controversy

President Donald Trump's feud with Pope Leo XIV intensified after Trump posted and later deleted an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure. The image drew widespread criticism for blasphemy and sparked a debate among religious leaders and political commentators.

Trump's Controversial AI Image and Feud with Pope Leo

Donald Trump sparked controversy by posting an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus, which he later deleted after significant backlash. This incident further fueled his ongoing public feud with Pope Leo, whom Trump has criticized as 'weak on crime' and 'terrible for foreign policy'.

Trump's Feud with Pope Leo and AI Image Controversy

President Trump has engaged in a public feud with Pope Leo, criticizing the pontiff's stance on foreign policy and war. This conflict was exacerbated by Trump posting and then deleting an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus, drawing significant backlash from religious leaders and conservatives.

Trump's AI Image and Feud with Pope Leo Spark Controversy

President Donald Trump has sparked controversy by posting an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, which he later deleted after widespread criticism. This incident is intertwined with an ongoing public feud between Trump and Pope Leo XIV, whom Trump has criticized for his views on the Iran war and other issues.

Trump's Feud with Pope Leo XIV and 'AI Jesus' Image Controversy

President Trump is engaged in a public feud with Pope Leo XIV, primarily over the Iran war. The controversy intensified after Trump posted an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, leading to widespread backlash and concerns among Catholic voters.

Trump's Feud with Pope Leo XIV and AI Jesus Image Controversy

President Trump is embroiled in a public feud with Pope Leo XIV, stemming from the Pope's criticism of the Iran war. The controversy deepened after Trump posted and later deleted an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, drawing bipartisan backlash and dismay from Catholics.

Trump's AI Jesus Image Controversy and Feud with Pope Leo

President Donald Trump posted and later deleted an AI-generated image depicting him as a Jesus-like figure, sparking bipartisan backlash and dismay among US Catholics. This incident further fueled an ongoing feud between Trump and Pope Leo XIV, who has criticized Trump's stance on the Iran war.

Iran & Middle East Conflict

Tracking the evolving military and diplomatic situation across the Middle East, including US-Iran tensions, Israeli operations, proxy conflicts, and the broader geopolitical implications for the region.

Trump's Feud with Pope Leo and Mental Acuity Concerns

President Trump is engaged in a public feud with Pope Leo XIV, stemming from the Pope's criticism of the Iran war and Trump's controversial AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus. This, coupled with a pattern of erratic behavior, has led to questions about Trump's mental acuity.

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