President Donald Trump is facing backlash from within his own base after posting an AI-generated image portraying himself as Jesus Christ, triggering criticism from conservative allies and escalating tensions with religious leaders.
The controversy began after Trump shared the image on Truth Social, showing himself in flowing white garments with a red sash, appearing to heal a patient while surrounded by onlookers and symbolic imagery.
The post was later deleted, but not before it spread widely and drew sharp reactions.
Trump defended the image, claiming it was misunderstood.
“It wasn’t a depiction… I thought it was me as a doctor,” he told reporters, arguing the image was meant to show him helping people, not portraying himself as a religious figure.
That explanation did little to calm criticism.
Several high-profile conservative voices pushed back, arguing the image crossed a line.
Commentator Michael Knowles said the post should be removed and warned it could have both political and spiritual consequences.
Riley Gaines also criticized the image, saying “a little humility would serve him well” and adding, “God shall not be mocked.”
Others went further.
Some allies described the post as “blasphemous,” while critics online called it inappropriate and unnecessary.
The backlash has exposed fractures within Trump’s evangelical and conservative support base, where religious symbolism is taken seriously.
The controversy comes amid an ongoing feud between Trump and Pope Leo XIV, per the Daily Mail.
The pope had recently made comments calling for peace and criticizing escalating conflict, widely interpreted as a reference to U.S. actions involving Iran.
Trump responded by attacking the pope, saying he was “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.”
The situation escalated further when Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, weighed in.
He condemned what he described as an insult to the pope and to Jesus, calling it unacceptable.
“I condemn the insult… the desecration of Jesus… is not acceptable to any free person,” he said in a public statement.
The controversy is unfolding as tensions with Iran continue to rise.
Trump recently announced a naval blockade targeting Iranian vessels, warning that any ships attempting to break it would be “immediately eliminated.”
The move has raised concerns about further escalation in the region.
At the same time, economic pressure is building at home.
Oil prices have surged, with both major benchmarks climbing above $100 per barrel following the announcement.
That increase is expected to impact gas prices and broader inflation.
The timing has added to the political stakes.
Trump is navigating both foreign policy challenges and growing criticism from within his own coalition.
Even some of his closest allies, including those aligned with his religious base, have voiced concern over the image and its implications.
