Donald Trump has once again shared an AI-generated religious-themed portrayal of himself, along with a peculiar caption suggesting that “God might be playing his Trump card.” The US president posted a screenshot on his Truth Social account of an image depicting a Jesus-like figure embracing him, in a move perceived as controversial given his ongoing dispute with Pope Leo XIV, a vocal critic of US policies towards Iran and Israel.
The image, originally shared by an account named “Irish for Trump” (@Dkelly4congress), features a long-haired, bearded figure resembling Jesus standing beside Trump with arms around him. The accompanying caption on the post reads: “I was never a very religious man… but doesn’t it seem, with all these satanic, demonic, child sacrificing monsters being exposed… that God might be playing his Trump card!”
Trump not only shared the image and its caption but also added his own comment, stating that although some “radical left lunatics” might disapprove of the depiction, he personally finds it “quite nice.” This latest post follows a previous instance where Trump uploaded and subsequently removed an AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure seemingly healing a sick individual in a hospital bed.
Shortly after the initial Truth Social post on Sunday night, which was taken down by Monday morning due to widespread backlash, Trump explained to CBS News that he removed the image because it caused confusion among viewers, and he did not want anyone to be misled. In the United States, there are over 70 million Catholics, comprising approximately 20% of the population.
Prior to sharing the controversial image, Trump had launched a scathing criticism against Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social, accusing him of being weak on crime and foreign policy. He expressed disapproval of the Pope’s views on Iran and Venezuela, suggesting that Leo XIV’s election was influenced by anti-Trump sentiments.
In response to Trump’s actions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned what he termed the “desecration of Jesus,” affirming support for the Pope. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Catholic and a close ally of Trump, deemed the US president’s remarks about the Pope as “unacceptable,” emphasizing the importance of the Pope’s role in promoting peace and condemning war.
Pope Leo XIV, undeterred by the criticism, asserted during a press briefing aboard his papal plane that he harbors no fear of the Trump administration and remains steadfast in delivering the message of the Gospel.
