Trump Removes Social Media Image of Himself as Jesus Following Widespread Backlash

US President Donald Trump deleted a social media image from his Truth Social platform on Monday, after it sparked outrage among religious leaders who deemed it blasphemous, as it appeared to depict him as Jesus.

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The image in question showed Trump dressed in flowing red and white robes, with his hand and head radiating light, as he touched the forehead of a seemingly ill individual, while an American flag waved in the background and onlookers gazed at him with reverence.

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The AI-generated picture was initially posted on Trump's platform late Sunday, only to be removed the following day, amid widespread criticism from prominent conservative Christians who are typically among his strongest supporters.

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When questioned about the post, Trump claimed he had not intended to portray himself as Jesus Christ, instead asserting that the image was meant to represent him as a doctor, with the red attire a nod to the Red Cross.

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Trump further explained that the post was supposed to convey his ability to "make people better," a claim he reiterated, stating "I do make people better, I make people a lot better."

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Megan Basham, a conservative journalist and commentator, was among those who expressed outrage over the post, writing on X that she was unsure what had motivated Trump to share such an "outrageous" image, and demanding that he take it down and seek forgiveness from the American people and God.

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Trump has previously incorporated religious imagery into his posts, including a sketch shared during his 2023 bank fraud trial that depicted him sitting beside Jesus in the courtroom.

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His advisors have also drawn parallels between Trump and Jesus, with Paula White-Cain, a televangelist and his spiritual advisor, likening Trump to Jesus during an Easter lunch event at the White House earlier this month, citing the similar patterns of betrayal and false accusation.