US President Donald Trump has posted an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ.
In the image shared on Truth Social, Trump is robed and surrounded by radiant light, while seemingly performing a healing, with figures resembling angels or soldiers levitating around him.
Fighter jets streak across the sky, fireworks explode overhead, and the Statue of Liberty looms in the background — elements that project a mix of religious symbolism and American military power.
Trump’s post followed his criticisms of Pope Leo XIV.
In a Truth Social post, Trump described the pope as weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy after the pontiff called for an end to rising global conflicts.
He wrote that Pope Leo is weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy.
Trump further stated that the pope talks about fear of the Trump administration but does not mention the fear that the Catholic Church and other Christian organisations experienced during COVID when priests, ministers, and others were arrested for holding church services.
The US president also criticised the pontiff’s stance on global issues, including nuclear weapons and recent military actions.
Trump suggested that Leo’s election as pope was politically motivated, claiming he was chosen because he is American.
He said he does not want a pope who thinks it is acceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon and does not want a pope who believes it was wrong for America to attack Venezuela, which he accused of sending large amounts of drugs into the United States.
He added that he does not want a pope who criticises the President of the United States, insisting he is carrying out the mandate he was elected to deliver, including reducing crime and strengthening the stock market.
Trump also said Leo should be thankful, claiming the pope’s emergence was unexpected and that he was selected by the Church because he is American and seen as a strategic choice in dealing with his administration.
He added that if he were not in the White House, Leo would not be in the Vatican, stressing that the pope’s positions on crime and nuclear weapons do not sit well with him.
In subsequent remarks to reporters, Trump said he is not a fan of the pope.
He said he does not think the pope is doing a very good job and described him as a very liberal person.
Trump’s comments followed remarks by Pope Leo on Saturday during evening prayers at St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, where he called for peace amid escalating global tensions.
The pontiff warned against what he described as a growing delusion of omnipotence fuelling conflicts.
He said there should be an end to the idolatry of self and money, the display of power, and war, adding that true strength is shown in serving life.
Earlier, in a post on X, the pope urged an end to the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, noting that peace can only be achieved through dialogue and coexistence.
The rift between both figures stems largely from the pope’s stance on global conflicts and migration.
Since the outbreak of the Iran war, Pope Leo has repeatedly condemned the violence, describing it as unjust and warning against what he called a delusion of omnipotence driving global tensions.
In an X post on Friday, the pontiff called for an end to the festering war across the world.
He cautioned against invoking God to justify war, noting that God does not bless any conflict and urged world leaders to embrace dialogue over violence.
He stated that God does not bless any conflict and that anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who wield the sword or drop bombs.
He has also criticised mass deportations and immigration raids in the United States, describing the treatment of migrants as inhumane and contrary to human dignity.
The pope had earlier declined an invitation to join a US-backed peace initiative for Gaza and cancelled a planned visit to the United States, opting instead to meet with migrants.
Tensions between both men surfaced shortly after Leo’s election in 2025 as the first American pope.
Although Trump initially welcomed the development as a great honour for the US, relations between the duo quickly deteriorated following policy disagreements and controversial social media posts.
The AI-generated image is the latest flashpoint in the deepening rift between the White House and the Vatican.
In 2025, Trump shared an AI-generated image of himself dressed as a pontiff on Truth Social. The post was later reshared by the White House.
NAN
