Trump Posts AI Jesus Painting on Truth Social After Attacking Pope Leo XIV
Donald Trump ignited a firestorm Sunday night after posting an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ on Truth Social — just minutes after unleashing a blistering attack on Pope Leo XIV. The Trump Jesus painting and the Trump Pope Leo post triggered immediate backlash from across the political and religious spectrum, including from members of his own base.
The Trump AI Photo: What the Truth Social Post Showed
The AI photo posted to Truth Social late Sunday night depicts Trump as Christ, laying his hand on a patient in a hospital bed, seemingly healing him. He is surrounded by other figures including a nurse, a soldier, and a praying woman.
Also visible in the Trump Jesus painting are the American flag, the Statue of Liberty, fighter jets, and what appears to be soldiers who have become angels watching over the scene. The image circulated rapidly across social media platforms, with millions of reactions pouring in within hours of the original Donald Trump Truth Social post going live.
What Trump Said About Pope Leo on Truth Social
Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy… I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon."
Trump also claimed credit for Leo's selection, arguing that he was chosen because the Catholic Church believed an American pope would be well-positioned to deal with Trump. Speaking to reporters in front of Air Force One Sunday night, Trump doubled down, saying, "I am not a big fan of Pope Leo. He's a very liberal person, and he's a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime."
Why Trump and Pope Leo Are Feuding
Trump's comments came roughly an hour after a "60 Minutes" segment aired covering Pope Leo and U.S. cardinals' opposition to the war in Iran and Trump's immigration policies.
The Pope made headlines last week after denouncing Trump's threat to Iran that "a whole civilization will die tonight," calling it "truly unacceptable" and urging people to contact their political representatives to work for peace. The conflict between the Trump administration and the Vatican has been building for months, rooted in deep disagreements over immigration policy, military action, and the role of faith in public life.
Pope Leo XIV Fires Back: "I Have No Fear"
Pope Leo responded Monday morning, saying: "I will not enter into debate. The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone. The message of the Gospel is very clear: 'Blessed are the peacemakers.'"
Leo added directly: "I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do." On the subject of Truth Social itself, the Pope noted wryly, "It's ironic — the name of the site itself. Say no more."
Backlash to the Trump Jesus Christ Post
The Trump Jesus meme-style painting drew condemnation even from within MAGA circles. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote: "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… It's more than blasphemy."
Massimo Faggioli, an expert on the papacy, stated: "Not even Hitler or Mussolini attacked the Pope so directly and publicly." The Trump Pope post was later removed from Truth Social by Monday morning, though the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Where Public Opinion Stands on Trump vs. Pope Leo
A recent NBC poll found that U.S. registered voters view the Pope more favorably than the president, with 42 percent seeing Leo positively and only 8 percent negatively. Trump, by contrast, was viewed favorably by 41 percent and negatively by 53 percent.
The clash between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV now stands as one of the most dramatic confrontations between a U.S. president and the Catholic Church in modern history, with no signs of de-escalation from either side.
