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 displaying an image of a Jesus-like figure embracing him, in a move seen as provocative amidst his ongoing disagreement 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 figure resembling Jesus standing next to Trump with arms around him.
The post is accompanied by the caption: “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 both the image and the caption, expressing his satisfaction with the depiction despite potential disapproval from “radical left lunatics.”
This latest share comes after Trump previously posted, and later removed, an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure seemingly healing a sick individual in a hospital bed. The initial Truth Social post, which was taken down the next day, drew criticism from various quarters, including some of his supporters who found it blasphemous.
Trump explained to CBS News that he removed the image due to confusion among viewers, stating that he did not want anyone to be misled. The US has over 70 million Catholics, comprising about 20% of the population.
Shortly before sharing the image on Sunday, Trump launched a verbal attack against Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social, criticizing him for being weak on crime and foreign policy. He further expressed his disapproval of the Pope’s views on various international issues, suggesting that Leo XIV’s election might have been influenced by a desire to counter Trump’s presidency.
In response to Trump’s comments, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned what he perceived as the disrespectful use of Jesus in the image and expressed support for the Pope. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Catholic and a Trump ally, deemed the US president’s remarks about the Pope as unacceptable, emphasizing the need for the Pope to advocate for peace and denounce warfare.
Pope Leo XIV, speaking to reporters on his plane, asserted that he harbored no fear of the Trump administration and remained committed to spreading the message of the Gospel.
