A now-deleted artificial intelligence (AI) generated image by the U.S. President has sparked immense backlash across the political divide. It comes as Trump and the Pope continue their fued over the U.S.-led war in the Middle East.
On Sunday, Trump posted the image on his social media platform Truth Social before deleting it on Monday. It appeared to show him as a Jesus-like figure, on the background of a sun, what appears to be U.S. soldiers, eagles and the flag of the U.S., with Trump holding his hand on a man in a hospital gown with his eyes closed - as people pray around.
The image drew wide-ranging criticism including from religious conservatives, particularly from a group that large swathes of, supported him in the 2024 election.
Prominent Trump supporter and former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, who has appeared with Trump at his political rallies, condemned the post on social media platform X:
Why? Seriously, I cannot understand why he'd post this. Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this?
Either way, two things are true.
1) a little humility would serve him well
2) God shall not be mocked https://t.co/GViHqWeDEr — Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 13, 2026
David Gibson, the Director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University which is a Catholic school, questioned the purpose of posting it but also whether this would turn voters away from him.
"Will this move cross a red line for them? Will they finally punish Trump and the GOP at the ballot box?" he said. "This is a watershed moment - will Catholics in America choose the pope or the president?”
Trump denied on Monday that the image was intended to show him as a Jesus-like figure. Soon after removing it, he told reporters at the White House that the post was "supposed to be me as a doctor making people better, and I do make people better".
After Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt in July 2024, some evangelical supporters said it was evidence he had been blessed by God.
Meanwhile, U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV has been heavily critical of the America-Israel war in Iran, asking Trump for an "off-ramp".
An hour before the AI image was posted, Trump posted on Truth Social:
"Unfortunately, Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons", he continues "terrible for Foreign Policy." and says he doesn't "want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon".
Trump signed off the post calling on Leo to "focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician".
Leo has rebuked the continual attacks against him, saying that he has "no fear" of Trump's administration. On Monday (13 April), he spoke in Algeria saying he denounced neocolonial world powers violating international law. This is seen as a sideswipe at the U.S.-Israel war.
This isn't the first time Trump has been at loggerheads with the leader of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis, Leo's predecessor, publicly opposed Trump's deportation policies as "un-Christian". After Francis died last year but before Leo was elected, the President posted an image depicting himself as the Pope.
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to travel to the Vatican and Italy this week for a series of meetings, according to Italian media reports, in a visit that comes amid strained relations between Washington and parts of Europe and heightened tensions involving Pope Leo XIV.
Pope Leo urged young people and families to embrace reconciliation and lead with dignity as he spoke at Bata Stadium in Equatorial Guinea on the final day of his Africa tour.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th of April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Pope Leo XIV has urged Angolans to move beyond decades of division, as tens of thousands gathered for Mass and prayers during his visit to the country. Speaking to large crowds near Luanda on Sunday (19 April), the pope described Angola as a “beautiful yet wounded country”.
At least two people have been killed and several injured after a car drove into a crowd in the eastern German city of Leipzig, local broadcaster MDR reported, citing police.
China has moved to block U.S. sanctions on five of its oil refineries, in a fresh escalation of tensions over trade and energy policy.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will “soon be reviewing” a new 14-point proposal sent by Iran, casting doubt on the chances of a deal after Tehran called for security guarantees, an end to naval blockades and a halt to the war across the region, including in Lebanon.
Iran warned U.S. forces on Monday not to enter the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump said the United States would "guide out" ships stranded in the Gulf by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Ukraine has launched a new wave of drone strikes on Sunday (3 May) across Russia, hitting key infrastructure and causing casualties in several regions, officials on both sides said.
At least two people have been killed and several injured after a car drove into a crowd in the eastern German city of Leipzig, local broadcaster MDR reported, citing police.
Austria has expelled three diplomats from the Russian Embassy over concerns that satellite installations on diplomatic buildings could be used for espionage.
A Russian missile strike killed six people in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Monday (4 May), as Kyiv reported fresh attacks on energy infrastructure and a sharp rise in drone strikes on ports.
Australia and Japan agreed on Monday to deepen cooperation on energy and critical minerals, as Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met her Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese during a three-day visit.
Australia began public hearings on Monday in an inquiry into the Bondi Beach mass shooting in December, with Jewish Australians giving evidence about their experiences of rising domestic antisemitism.
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