On Orthodox Easter, Donald Trump faced significant criticism for sharing an AI-generated image of himself depicted as Jesus Christ, moments after he criticized Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social. The image, mimicking a traditional Catholic depiction of the Divine Physician, shows Trump in a white mantle with a red robe, emitting a beam of light from his left hand while placing his right on a hospital patient’s forehead. Surrounding him are figures including a veteran, a soldier, a surgeon, and a praying woman, all White, with an American flag, eagles, and fighter jets in the background.
The post followed a political rant against Pope Leo, occurring shortly after a 60 Minutes segment on the pope’s and American Catholic leaders’ resistance to Trump’s policies on Iran and immigration. Trump declared, “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.” The image was removed after backlash from Trump supporters, including Bishop Robert Barron and conservative commentator Michael Knowles, who urged its deletion for both spiritual and political reasons. Even the Knights Templar International demanded its removal, labeling it offensive and blasphemous.
Today, Trump refuted claims that the AI image portrayed him as Jesus, asserting it depicted him as a doctor instead. Previously, Trump shared an AI meme of himself as the pope, signaling to MAGA Catholics, yet this latest portrayal is alienating some of his staunch Catholic supporters, forcing them to choose between allegiance to the pope or the president.
Catholics have historically faced discrimination in America, with anti-Catholic sentiment deeply ingrained due to xenophobic bigotry. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Catholic immigrants faced nativist violence, even from groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Now, the Trump administration directs similar nativist rhetoric against immigrants and communities of color, including Catholic Latinos, accusing them of depleting resources meant for White Protestants.
Trump’s portrayal as Jesus with a fake tan highlights who he claims to ‘save.’ Just as anti-Catholic campaigns did in the past, Trump positions himself as a savior for American Protestant Christian nationalists, depicted with a glowing hand. However, art historians and Catholics recognize the light should emanate from Jesus’s side, not his hand, showcasing Trump’s misunderstanding of the art and religion he manipulates for his agenda of a false White Christian Jesus.
