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By Jesus Mesa
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President Donald Trump's AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ has triggered sharp rebukes from across the conservative spectrum, including some of his former allies.
Posted to Truth Social hours after a bitter attack on Pope Leo XIV, the image shows Trump in a Christ-like pose, healing a sick man surrounded by American flags and bald eagles. The post sparked accusations of "blasphemy" and "narcissism" from right-wing figures who have long supported him.
Why It Matters
Trump shared the image Sunday night after lashing out at the pope for his criticism of the Iran war and immigration policies. The president called Pope Leo "weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy," claiming the pontiff should focus on "being a Great Pope, not a Politician."
Read More on Politics
Pope Leo hit back on Monday, saying he has "no fear" of the Trump administration.
Full List of Conservatives Criticizing the Trump-Jesus Image
- Candace Owens, conservative commentator
- Carmine Sabia, conservative pundit
- Megan Basham, The Daily Wire
- Brilyn Hollyhand, MAGA influencer
- Marjorie Taylor Greene, former GOP Representative
- Milo Yiannopoulos, right-wing influencer
- Riley Gaines, anti-trans activist
What To Know
President Donald Trump told reporters after Air Force One landed outside Washington, D.C., on Sunday: "We don't like a pope that's going to say that it's OK to have a nuclear weapon. We don't want a pope that says crime is OK in our cities. I don't like it. I'm not a big fan of Pope Leo."
Later, he posted the image of himself as a Christ-like figure. The Jesus image post represents an escalation in weeks of turmoil within conservative ranks. Since Trump launched the Iran war in late February, prominent figures like Candace Owens, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tucker Carlson, and Alex Jones have publicly broken with the president over what they call a reckless and unjustified conflict.
Candace Owens, a former staunch Trump supporter who campaigned for him in 2024 but has since broken with him over the Iran war and other policies, was among the first to respond. "This will be consequential for JD Vance," she wrote on X.
Conservative pundit Carmine Sabia drew an even starker line. "I support Trump on most things but I will forever support my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ before any man or woman. What Trump did is reprehensible. I cannot imagine the narcissism it takes to post that," he wrote.
Megan Basham, author and culture reporter for The Daily Wire, called for immediate removal. "I don't know if the President thought he was being funny or if he is under the influence of some substance or what possible explanation he could have for this OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy. But he needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God."
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Even younger MAGA supporters recoiled. Brilyn Hollyhand, a 19-year-old MAGA influencer with nearly 232,000 X followers, posted: "This is gross blasphemy. Faith is not a prop. You don't need to portray yourself as a savior when your record should speak for itself. The same God who saved Trump's life from that bullet sent His son Jesus to die for our sins. He died for Trump just as much as for you and I."
Marjorie Taylor Greene, the former GOP representative who has recently broken with Trump over his handling of the Epstein files and foreign policy, was unsparing. "On Orthodox Easter, President Trump attacked the Pope because the Pope is rightly against Trump's war in Iran and then he posted this picture of himself as if he is replacing Jesus. This comes after last week's post of his evil tirade on Easter and then threatening to kill an entire civilization. I completely denounce this and I'm praying against it!!!" She added: "It's more than blasphemy. It's an Antichrist spirit."
Right-wing influencer Milo Yiannopoulos voiced similar concerns. "Oh hell no. We tolerated this kind of meme against our better judgment because he promised to save America and only when it was clear he didn't actually think he was the Messiah. Why do I feel like Paula White did this to him, and to us? Pray for his soul. Pray for us all."
Anti-trans activist Riley Gaines also weighed in. "Why? Seriously, I cannot understand why he'd post this. Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this? Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God shall not be mocked."
Pope Leo XIV said to reporters aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria on Monday: "I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the Church is here to do."
What Happens Next
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria on Monday on a first-ever papal visit. Leo’s arrival in Algiers kicked off an 11-day tour of four African nations — Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
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