On Sunday night, President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated depiction of himself as Jesus Christ, which sparked outrage among Americans across the political spectrum.
The image featured Trump amid supporters, along with patriotic symbols like flags and the Statue of Liberty. This post coincided with Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV, labeling him “soft on crime” and condemning his foreign policy as “terrible,” accusing the Pope of catering to the “radical left.”
Reactions from Trump supporters were mixed. Some interpreted the image as Trump taking on a healing role for the country, while others thought it was a jab at the Pope.
Riley Gaines, speaking on Outkick, questioned Trump’s motives, asking: “Why? Seriously, I don’t understand why he would post this.” She emphasized that a touch of humility could go a long way and reminded that “God is not mocked.”
Another commentator, Bonchy from Red State, suggested Trump should retract the image, arguing that blasphemy transcends political jabs, and insisted on the need for an apology.
Several journalists and public figures also weighed in. Megan Basham urged Trump to delete the post and seek forgiveness, while influencer Mike Cernovich deemed it unacceptable for any religion. Commentator Carmine Sabia expressed offense as a Christian, asserting, “There is only one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” and noted that mocking Him is inappropriate.
Christian blogger Jackie Chia added that Trump’s meme, regardless of intent, was blasphemous and not a good joke. Some on the left, including Cenk Uygur of Young Turks, characterized the image as a profound display of ignorance or intentional ridicule.
Meanwhile, there were those who found humor in the backlash. Author Brigitte Fetassi noted that her uncle had been sharing Trump Jesus memes since 2016. A Trump supporter defended the image, suggesting it represented Trump “doing God’s work” in restoring the nation.
The White House has yet to comment on the incident.
