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20h ago

Trump Escalates Feud With Pope After AI Jesus-Like Image Draws Religious Backlash

Widespread religious backlash signals potential trouble for Trump with Catholic voters.

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A photo illustration shows President Donald Trump alongside an artificial intelligence-generated image he posted on his Truth Social platform depicting himself as Jesus Christ. He shared the image after criticizing Pope Leo XIV as being “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.”
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President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 13, 2026. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks to reporters in Brussels, Belgium on June 28, 2024.

Overview

  • Trump, who on Sunday called Pope Leo XIV “WEAK on crime” on Truth Social, later shared an AI image that portrayed him in a Jesus-like healing scene and then deleted it Monday.
  • Speaking to reporters Monday, Trump confirmed he posted the image and said he believed it showed him as a doctor linked to the Red Cross, while refusing to apologize for his remarks about the pope.
  • Pope Leo responded Monday in remarks to reporters en route to Africa, saying he has no fear of the administration and reaffirming calls for ceasefire, dialogue, and restraint in the Iran-related war.
  • U.S. Catholic bishops and several conservative commentators condemned the post and the image, and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called Trump’s attack on the pope unacceptable.
  • Analysts note the clash could weaken Trump’s standing with Catholics who backed him in 2024, as the first U.S.-born pontiff presses a diplomacy-first approach on Iran that contrasts with the administration’s posture.