US President Donald Trump has deleted an artificial intelligence-generated image that appeared to show him in a Jesus Christ-like role after widespread backlash from religious leaders and conservative commentators.
The image, posted on Trump’s Truth Social account on Sunday night, showed him wearing flowing red and white robes while touching the forehead of a sick man, with rays of light emanating from his hand and head. An American flag was visible in the background, while several figures appeared to look on in reverence.
The post was removed on Monday following growing criticism from religious figures who described it as blasphemous.
When asked about the post, Trump denied that he intended to portray himself as Jesus Christ.
“I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do Red Cross,” he told reporters. “It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better. And I do make people better. I make people a lot better.”
The image triggered strong reactions from prominent conservative Christians, many of whom are among Trump’s political supporters.
Conservative commentator Megan Basham condemned the post on social media, calling it “outrageous blasphemy” and urging the president to delete it and seek forgiveness.
“He needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God,” she wrote on X.
Trump has previously used religious symbolism in public messaging, including during his 2023 bank fraud trial when he shared an illustration depicting himself seated beside Jesus in a courtroom scene.
His political messaging has also frequently included religious undertones, with advisers and supporters often portraying him in symbolic spiritual terms.
During an Easter event at the White House earlier this year, televangelist Paula White-Cain, a longtime spiritual adviser, made comments comparing Trump to Jesus Christ, referencing themes of betrayal and suffering.
Political analysts say Trump has increasingly embraced a quasi-messianic public persona, particularly following the assassination attempt against him in July 2024.
Speaking after his 2024 election victory, Trump said supporters believed he had been “spared for a reason” to “restore America to greatness.”
Religious scholar Matthew Taylor of Georgetown University said the incident could deepen divisions within Trump’s coalition, particularly among Catholic supporters already uneasy over his foreign policy positions and tensions involving religious leadership.
However, historian Kristin du Mez of Calvin University suggested that while some supporters may distance themselves from the imagery, it is unlikely to significantly weaken Trump’s core political base.
She noted that many conservative Christians criticize the symbolism while still maintaining political support for the president.
The controversy adds to ongoing debates over the use of religious imagery in American politics and the blending of faith symbolism with political identity in Trump’s public messaging.
