Trump deletes post depicting him as Jesus-like figure after backlash

April 13, 2026

President Donald Trump removed a controversial AI-generated image from Truth Social that depicted him in a Jesus-like pose with his hand glowing over a sick patient in a hospital bed. The post triggered widespread criticism from across the political spectrum, including from Christian activists and conservative figures who typically support Trump. Trump defended the image as showing him as a doctor helping people, claiming he removed it only to avoid confusion, while offering no apology.

Who is affected

President Donald Trump (subject of criticism and creator of the post)
Pope Leo XIV (criticized by Trump in a separate post)
Christian activists and conservative supporters (including Sean Feucht and Riley Gaines who publicly objected)
Faith-based news outlets and journalists (such as David Brody from Christian Broadcasting Network)
Trump's political supporters and critics across the political spectrum
White House staff (implicated in social media controversies)

What action is being taken

Trump is defending his posting of the image to reporters
Trump is criticizing Pope Leo XIV publicly
Pope Leo XIV is condemning the war in Iran and speaking out against the Trump administration
Christian activist Sean Feucht is working on faith-based events for the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence

Why it matters

This incident matters because it demonstrates tensions between Trump's self-promotion tactics and religious sensibilities, even among his core supporters. The controversy reveals limits to what Trump's base will accept, particularly when religious imagery is involved, as evidenced by criticism from typically loyal Christian conservatives and faith-based media. Additionally, Trump's public feud with the first American pope over military operations in Iran highlights significant conflicts between US foreign policy and religious leadership on matters of war and peace.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC