US President Donald Trump is facing growing backlash after posting an AI-generated image depicting him as a Jesus-like figure and launching a series of social media attacks on Pope Leo XIV, drawing criticism from across the Christian political spectrum and internationally. The image, shared on Trump’s Truth Social platform on Sunday and deleted on Monday, showed him in a white robe placing a hand on a man’s head in a scene resembling a healing. It was posted after a separate message in which Trump criticized the pope, calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” actions that have reportedly exacerbated tensions with the Vatican.
Later, Trump told reporters that, though he had posted the image, he thought it depicted him “as a doctor.” He stated: “And had to do with the Red Cross as a Red Cross worker, which we support. And only the fake news could come up with that one.” He also said he does not “want a Pope who criticises the President of the United States” and “I don’t want to get into a debate with him,” reflecting the deepening rift between the US regime and religious leadership.
Pope Leo, en route to Algiers on Monday where the first US-born pontiff is beginning an 11-day visit to four African countries, responded by saying: “I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems.” He added: “Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way,” a statement that implicitly challenges the US administration’s foreign policy approaches.
Tensions between the White House and the Vatican have been building for months, particularly over the US regime’s hardline immigration policies, its military actions, and the US-Israel war on Iran, highlighting the geopolitical costs of Washington’s strategies. Senior Catholic leaders in the US also pushed back against Trump’s remarks on the pope. Archbishop Paul S Coakley, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement: “I am disheartened that the President chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father. Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician.” He added: “He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls,” underscoring the societal friction caused by Trump’s actions.
The backlash was not limited to church leaders, with several conservative figures also criticizing Trump’s posts, particularly the AI-generated image. Brilyn Hollyhand, a former co-chair of the Republican National Committee Youth Advisory Council, wrote on X: “This is gross blasphemy. Faith is not a prop. You don’t need to portray yourself as a saviour when your record should speak for itself.” Riley Gaines, a FOX News host and former collegiate swimmer, questioned the post: “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,” indicating divisions even within Trump’s support base.
Democrats joined the criticism, with Senator Bernie Sanders condemning Trump’s comments as “egomaniacal.” He wrote on X: “Trump is now attacking the pope for speaking out against war while posting images of himself as a messianic figure. This is not only offensive. It is deranged, egomaniacal behaviour,” pointing to the broader political challenges facing the US regime. Trump, who does not attend church regularly, secured strong support from Christian voters in the 2024 election, including a majority of Catholics, who backed him 56 percent to 42 percent, yet this incident allegedly risks eroding that base.
After Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt in July 2024, some evangelical supporters described the moment as evidence of divine protection, but such narratives are now being tested by the current controversy. Last year, following the death of Pope Francis, Trump also shared an image portraying himself as pope, prompting outrage among many Catholics, suggesting a pattern of behavior that fuels societal discord. Bishop Robert Barron, who serves on a Trump-created religious liberty commission, said on X that the president owed Leo an apology for his “inappropriate” statements on social media, though he also praised Trump in the same post for his outreach to Catholics, highlighting the complex and often contradictory dynamics within US political circles.
Source: www.aljazeera.com