Donald Trump is facing an unusual wave of criticism from within his own conservative and religious support base after posting an AI-generated image depicting himself in a Christ-like role.
That act that has triggered accusations of blasphemy and “sacrilegious” behavior.
The controversy erupted shortly after Trump launched a late-night social media attack on Pope Leo XIV, calling him “WEAK” on crime and “terrible” on foreign policy, while also sharing the striking AI image on Truth Social.
The illustration showed Trump dressed in flowing robes, placing a glowing hand on a man in a hospital bed, with surrounding figures appearing in reverence, an image many say closely mirrors traditional depictions of Jesus healing the sick.
He is shown in a position of authority and higher power, placing his hand on the head of an unwell elderly man lying in a hospital bed, as if healing him.
Around him are nurses, veterans, and soldiers, all appearing to witness the moment. The background includes strongly patriotic imagery such as the American flag, the Statue of Liberty, the Lincoln Memorial, and a soaring eagle.
Truth Social / Donald Trump
Elsewhere in the scene, warplanes are visible in the sky, along with what appear to be figures emerging from clouds, while fireworks burst overhead.
Some social media users suggested Trump looked like he was healing “a young Jeffrey Epstein,” although this is not confirmed or clearly identifiable. Others criticized the image more bluntly, calling it “some blasphemous bulls***.”
The post immediately drew backlash, not just from critics on the left, but from prominent voices within the religious right and conservative Christian circles, many of whom are usually among Trump’s strongest supporters.
One commenter wrote, according to The Washington Post:
“Trump is quite obviously against the Pope as he feels challenged and confronted by Pope Leo’s responses to the disrespectful attacks on the Catholic Church… His childishness and puerile behaviour is unseemly…”
Others went further, accusing the president of crossing a spiritual line. Conservative Christian writer Megan Basham described the image as:
“OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy… he needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God.”
”Disgusting and unacceptable”
Catholic podcaster Isabel Brown also condemned the post, calling it:
“disgusting and unacceptable, but also a profound misreading of the American people experiencing a true and beautiful revival of faith in Christ…”
Michael Knowles, a conservative Catholic commentator, added that it:
“behooves the President both spiritually and politically to delete the picture, no matter the intent.”
Riley Gaines, a conservative activist and former athlete with 1,6 million followers on X, and who has spoken at Trump rallies, also questioned the message behind 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… a little humility would serve him well and God shall not be mocked.”
Did Trump went too far?
The backlash comes amid a growing pattern of Trump sharing AI-generated or highly stylized images of himself in symbolic or exaggerated roles.
Critics say the latest post pushes that trend further by introducing explicitly religious imagery at a politically sensitive moment.
A White House official, speaking anonymously to The Washington Post, suggested the outrage may fade quickly, as it has in previous controversies. But the official also said it went too far for Trump to post such an image of himself, even though some of his most loyal MAGA supporters have often portrayed 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.
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