Trump deletes image of himself as Jesus-like saviour after backlash

In April 2026, US President Donald Trump faced backlash for posting an AI-generated image depicting him as a Jesus-like figure on his Truth Social platform. The image, which was later deleted, showed Trump in a white robe with his hand on a man's head. The post followed Trump's criticism of Pope Leo XIV, whom he called "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy." Church leaders and conservative figures condemned both the image and Trump's remarks about the Pope. Tensions between the White House and the Vatican have been escalating due to disagreements over immigration policies, military actions, and the US-Israel war on Iran. Pope Leo XIV has publicly criticized Trump's policies and advocated for peace and dialogue.

Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image on Truth Social depicting himself as a Christ-like figure healing a sick man, but later deleted it after facing criticism. The image, which had previously circulated online, was altered to include a demonic figure. Prominent conservative figures, including Riley Gaines, Megan Basham, and Isabel Brown, publicly condemned the post as blasphemous and unacceptable. Even on Truth Social, Trump's own social media platform, users expressed disapproval. The backlash prompted Trump to remove the image from his account.

Donald Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born pope, on social media after the Pope criticized the US-Israeli war on Iran. Trump called the Pope "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy," objecting to the Pope's criticism of his policies. Pope Leo had recently condemned Trump's threat to destroy Iranian civilization and urged leaders to end the bloodshed, seemingly directing his comments at Trump. Trump claimed the Vatican elected Leo to gain favor with the White House and accused the Pope of catering to the Radical Left. The Pope had also previously questioned the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies.

Former President Trump publicly criticized Pope Leo following the Pope's criticism of Trump's threats against Iran. Trump accused the Pope of being too liberal, soft on crime, and failing to address Iran's nuclear ambitions. These remarks drew immediate criticism, with one expert noting that even historical dictators had not attacked the Pope so directly. Pope Leo has repeatedly called for de-escalation in the Middle East and denounced global conflicts, including Trump's threats against Iran, which he deemed "unacceptable." The Pope has also lamented the growing indifference to violence and death.

In April 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Pope Leo, the first American pontiff, on social media. Trump accused the Pope of being "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy." The attack stemmed from disagreements over the war in Iran, with Trump stating he did not want a Pope who condoned Iran possessing nuclear weapons. This direct criticism of the Catholic Church's global leader broke diplomatic norms and escalated an existing feud. The remarks were posted on social media, further intensifying the strained relationship between the U.S. President and the Pope.