Tillis on Trump’s reasoning for posting AI Jesus image: ‘I’ll take it at face value’

The Hill
by Sophie Brams
April 16, 2026
2 min read

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Sen. Thom Tillis accepts President Trump's explanation for a controversial social media post depicting him as a Jesus-like figure.

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Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) stated on Wednesday that he accepts President Trump’s explanation for a controversial social media post depicting the president as a Jesus-like figure. Tillis indicated he would take the President's reasoning "at face value," despite the image generating public debate. The North Carolina senator expressed greater concern over President Trump’s recent comments directed at Pope Leo XIV than the AI-generated image itself. This suggests a prioritization of religious diplomatic relations over the optics of the President's social media content.

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