Trump's AI Image of Himself as Jesus Isn't Going Over Well

President Trump's latest social media post casting himself in a near-biblical role isn't going over well in conservative circles. Less than an hour after slamming Pope Leo XIV as "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy" on Truth Social, the president shared what appears to be an AI-crafted illustration of himself styled like Jesus, reports the New York Times. Reaction went along these lines:

• "On Orthodox Easter, President Trump attacked the Pope because the Pope is rightly against Trump's war in Iran and then he posted this picture of himself as if he is replacing Jesus," wrote former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on X, per the Hill. "This comes after last week's post of his evil tirade on Easter and then threatening to kill an entire civilization. I completely denounce this and I'm praying against it!!!"

• "I don't know if the President thought he was being funny or if he is under the influence of some substance or what possible explanation he could have for this OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy," wrote Megan Basham, a prominent conservative Christian commentator, per the Washington Post. "But he needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God."
• "Why? Seriously, I cannot understand why he'd post this. Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this?" conservative activist Riley Gaines posted on X. "Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God shall not be mocked."
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a frequent haranguer of Trump, jumped right in with his own AI version of Trump's post.

The image shows Trump in white and red robes, hands glowing as he touches the forehead of a man in a hospital gown, surrounded by a praying woman, a person in medical scrubs, and someone in camouflage. The pope responded Monday that he has "no fear of the Trump administration" and will continue to speak out "loudly" about the Gospel. Trump has repeatedly shared AI-style hero imagery of himself, including as pope after Francis' 2025 death and as a crown-wearing "king" on a mock magazine cover.