Trump Posts AI Image of Himself as Jesus After Attacking Pope Leo XIV

President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ on Truth Social late Sunday night, April 13, less than an hour after attacking Pope Leo XIV as "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy." The image shows Trump laying his hand on a patient in a hospital bed, surrounded by American symbols including bald eagles, the Statue of Liberty, and the Lincoln Memorial.

Trump's post followed a series of statements criticizing the pope's positions on nuclear weapons and crime prevention. At Joint Base Andrews on Sunday evening, Trump told reporters: "We don't like a pope who's going to say it's ok to have a nuclear weapon" and "We don't want a pope that says crime is ok in our cities. I am not a fan of Pope Leo." Trump also claimed credit for Leo's selection as pope, stating the Catholic Church chose an American because they believed he would be positioned to deal with Trump.

The image posted to Truth Social depicted Trump as Christ with a nurse, soldier, and praying woman present in the scene. Trump's caption and accompanying statements suggested he viewed the pope as failing in his duties and urged him to "use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician."

The posts drew swift criticism from prominent figures within Trump's own political coalition. Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has identified as a "proud Christian nationalist," wrote on X: "On Orthodox Easter, President Trump attacked the Pope because the Pope is rightly against Trump's war in Iran and then he posted this picture of himself as if he is replacing Jesus." Greene added in a separate post: "It's more than blasphemy. It's an Antichrist spirit."

Right-wing influencer Milo Yiannopoulos also condemned the image on X, writing: "Oh hell no. We tolerated this kind of meme against our better judgment because he promised to save America and only when it was clear he didn't actually think he was the Messiah." Yiannopoulos questioned whether televangelist Paula White, who serves as Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office, was involved in creating the post.

Context

Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago-born pontiff, has routinely criticized Trump administration policies and military actions. During his Palm Sunday address last month, Leo told worshippers in Rome: "Christ, King of Peace, cries out again from his cross: God is love! Have mercy! Lay down your weapons! Remember that you are brothers and sisters!" The pope has specifically opposed Trump's military operations in Iran and Venezuela, calling for justice and peace in those nations.

The pope's criticism of Trump's policies extends to immigration matters. On April 12, 60 Minutes broadcast an interview with three American cardinals who criticized Trump administration policies, including the Iran military campaign and immigration enforcement. This interview preceded Trump's Sunday night posts by hours.

Trump's comparison of himself to religious figures is not entirely new to his presidency, though the AI-generated image represents an escalation. The posts occurred on Orthodox Easter, a date significant to Christian observance.

What's Next

Trump's posts signal an intensification of his direct conflict with Pope Leo XIV rather than a de-escalation. The criticism from Greene and Yiannopoulos—figures central to Trump's political base—suggests the image may face sustained pressure from within conservative circles, potentially forcing a White House response or clarification about the post's intent and origin.

The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on the posts as of April 13. The ongoing dispute between Trump and the pope over Iran policy, crime prevention approaches, and nuclear weapons doctrine will likely continue to shape Vatican-U.S. relations through the remainder of Trump's term.