Trump Removes Jesus Image From Truth Social After Backlash From Conservative Allies

President Donald Trump deleted a post containing an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ on April 13, 2026, after receiving criticism from across the political spectrum, including prominent conservative figures who called the imagery blasphemous. The image, posted late Sunday evening on his Truth Social account, showed Trump dressed as Jesus healing a sick man while doctors, military members, bald eagles, and fighter jets looked on. Trump removed the post following public objections from multiple conservative supporters and activists.

The image appeared on Trump's Truth Social account Sunday evening without accompanying text. It depicted Trump in robes performing a healing gesture over a patient, with military personnel, medical staff, American flags, the Statue of Liberty, and military aircraft arranged around the scene. The post generated rapid criticism from Trump's own political base within hours of publication.

Conservative influencer Riley Gaines posted on X on Monday morning: "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." Joey Jones, co-host of Fox News' "The Big Weekend Show," wrote on X that the image was "looney tunes" and called it an "unforced error."

Michael Knowles, host of a show for The Daily Wire, stated on X that the president should delete the image "both spiritually and politically, no matter the intent." Conservative political activist Brilyn Hollyhand wrote that the post represented "gross blasphemy" and that "faith is not a prop." Actor Morgan Freeman commented that Trump was "the most disrespectful 'leader' in American history" while amplifying criticism from Knights Templar International, a Christian organization that called the image "offensive and blasphemous" and demanded a public apology.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the post or its removal. The deletion occurred within approximately 24 hours of the image's initial publication.

Context

Trump's relationship with religious imagery and evangelical voters has been central to his political coalition since 2016. In 2020, a similar image circulated online depicting Trump as a biblical figure, though that image was created and distributed by supporters rather than posted directly by Trump. The 2024 election saw Trump receive approximately 81 percent of the evangelical Christian vote, according to exit polling, making this constituency a critical part of his base.

The timing of the post came after Trump had criticized Pope Leo on Truth Social as "weak" for opposing an Iran war, marking a broader pattern of commentary on religious leadership. Previous instances of Trump-related religious imagery generated debate within Christian communities about the appropriate use of faith symbolism in political contexts, though direct posting by Trump himself of such imagery was less common.

What's Next

The incident reveals potential friction within Trump's coalition between his core supporters and segments of the religious conservative movement that view certain forms of self-promotion as incompatible with Christian doctrine. Future posts on Truth Social will likely receive heightened scrutiny from conservative commentators who have established a precedent for publicly objecting to content they deem inappropriate. The removal suggests Trump's team is responsive to criticism from his own political base, a dynamic that may influence what content appears on his social media accounts going forward.