Donald Trump deleted, on Monday, an image depicting him as Jesus on his Truth Social network, in response to outrage from the American religious right. (Credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP)
Despite Donald Trump’s denial, it is hard to accept this was simply a misinterpretation. The U.S. president shared an AI-generated image on Truth Social portraying himself in a Messiah-like figure, surrounded by eagles and American soldiers, and a halo of light around his hands, touching the forehead of a man in a hospital bed.The post triggered anger among U.S. Catholics and even parts of his MAGA base, who described it as offensive and blasphemous. It came shortly after a series of lash outs on Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope.The episode was followed by a confused and scarcely convincing response from the U.S. president. After deleting the post on Monday, Trump said he had not intended to portray himself as Jesus, but rather as a “Red Cross volunteer” helping patients. He later renewed his criticism of the pontiff, saying he was...
Despite Donald Trump’s denial, it is hard to accept this was simply a misinterpretation. The U.S. president shared an AI-generated image on Truth Social portraying himself in a Messiah-like figure, surrounded by eagles and American soldiers, and a halo of light around his hands, touching the forehead of a man in a hospital bed.The post triggered anger among U.S. Catholics and even parts of his MAGA base, who described it as offensive and blasphemous. It came shortly after a series of lash outs on Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope.The episode was followed by a confused and scarcely convincing response from the U.S. president. After deleting the post on Monday, Trump said he had not intended to portray himself as Jesus, but rather as a “Red Cross volunteer” helping patients. He later renewed his criticism of the pontiff, saying...
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