Trump Tries to Explain Away Posting an AI Image Likening Himself to Jesus

TIME
by Chad de Guzman
April 14, 2026
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3 min read

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President Trump tried to explain an AI image he posted that appeared to show him as Jesus.

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President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image on social media that appeared to depict him as Jesus healing a sick man, drawing significant backlash. The image, which Trump later removed, showed him with glowing hands placed on a bedridden man’s forehead, surrounded by patriotic symbols. Trump explained to reporters on Monday, April 13, 2026, that he thought the picture depicted him as a physician, not Jesus, citing references to the Red Cross. The post offended some of Trump’s traditional support base, including evangelical Christians, and prompted criticism from allies like Riley Gaines and Megan Basham. Trump denied removing the image due to backlash, stating he didn't want people to be "confused."

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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 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 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 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 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.

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 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 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 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.

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