By Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes Staff.
Mary Roeloffs is a Forbes breaking news reporter covering pop culture.
Topline
President Donald Trump on Wednesday reposted an AI-generated image of himself and Jesus in a close embrace in front of the American flag, calling the image “quite nice” days after another image, in which he himself was depicted as Jesus, was slammed as "blasphemy” by conservative Christians.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday shared this image of himself embracing Jesus.Truth Social, @realDonaldTrump
Trump and his administration have a history of posting AI-doctored images, including one last year that depicted Trump as the pope two weeks after Pope Francis' death but before Pope Leo XIV was chosen as the church’s new leader. Trump was forced to back down after posting an AI-generated clip that depicted former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, as apes earlier this year. The administration has also been slammed for posting fake images including ones depicting the arrest of a civil rights activist in Minnesota, a “Studio Ghibli”-style image of a crying immigrant woman being detained and fake endorsements, like ones suggesting Taylor Swift supported his run for office.
Key Facts
- The new photo was originally posted by a page on X called “Irish for Trump” alongside the caption, "I was never a very religious man .. but doesn't it seem , with all these satanic , demonic , child sacrificing monsters being exposed ... that God might be playing his Trump card !"
- The president then posted a screenshot of the tweet to his Truth Social account with the comment: “The Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice!!! President DJT.”
- Trump was slammed earlier this week for, on Orthodox Easter, posting another AI image that depicted the president as Jesus himself descending from the heavens while wearing a long white robe with a red shawl, and holding an orb of light as he places one hand on the forehead of a sick man who lies in what appears to be a hospital bed.
- The post sparked instant backlash, largely from conservative Christian factions of Trump’s base, including prominent conservative Christian journalist Megan Basham who called it “OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy” and political commentator Cam Higby who said he spends "8 hours a day" defending Trump but "will not defend blasphemy."
- Trump later deleted the photo and, when asked about by reporters outside of the Oval Office, said, “I thought it was me as a doctor. Only the fake news could come up with that,” adding, “I make people better.”
- The first photo was posted Sunday shortly after another post in which Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, as too liberal and “weak on crime,” drawing more fire in what critics called “offensive," “immature" and an "unforced error" that could impact Catholic support in the midterm elections this November.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday shared this image of himself embracing Jesus.Truth Social, @realDonaldTrump
Trump and his administration have a history of posting AI-doctored images, including one last year that depicted Trump as the pope two weeks after Pope Francis' death but before Pope Leo XIV was chosen as the church’s new leader. Trump was forced to back down after posting an AI-generated clip that depicted former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, as apes earlier this year. The administration has also been slammed for posting fake images including ones depicting the arrest of a civil rights activist in Minnesota, a “Studio Ghibli”-style image of a crying immigrant woman being detained and fake endorsements, like ones suggesting Taylor Swift supported his run for office.
An AI image of Trump depicted as the pope.X, @WhiteHouse
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