Donald Trump has once again shared an AI-generated religious-themed portrayal of himself, along with a peculiar statement suggesting that “God might be playing his Trump card.” The US president posted a screenshot on his Truth Social platform displaying an image resembling Jesus embracing him, which is seen as a provocative gesture amidst his ongoing disagreement with Pope Leo XIV, a vocal critic of US and Israeli actions against Iran. The image, originally posted by an account named “Irish for Trump” (@Dkelly4congress), features a figure resembling Jesus standing next to Trump with arms around him.
Accompanying the image is a caption that 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 shared the image and caption, mentioning that although some may find the portrayal unfavorable, he personally finds it “quite nice.”
This incident follows Trump’s previous sharing and subsequent deletion of an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure purportedly healing a sick individual in a hospital bed. The original Truth Social post, published on Sunday night and removed the following morning, drew criticism from various political factions in the US, including some of his own supporters who deemed it blasphemous.
In response to the backlash, Trump explained to CBS News that he removed the image due to confusion among people, stating his intention to avoid any misunderstandings. The US has over 70 million Catholics, constituting roughly 20% of the population.
Just before posting the image on Sunday, Trump launched a verbal attack on Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social, criticizing him as “WEAK on Crime” and detrimental to Foreign Policy. Trump expressed disapproval of the Pope’s views on Iran’s nuclear capabilities and America’s actions towards Venezuela. He also insinuated that the Pope’s election was influenced by a desire to counter his presidency.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denounced the portrayal of Jesus in the image and expressed solidarity with the Pope. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Catholic and Trump’s close ally, condemned Trump’s remarks about the Pope as unacceptable, emphasizing the Pope’s role in advocating for peace.
In response, Pope Leo XIV, speaking aboard the papal plane, affirmed his commitment to delivering the message of the Gospel fearlessly in the face of the Trump administration.
