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By Jenna Sundel
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Multiple Christian leaders who have shown support for President Donald Trump's administration criticized the president's remarks about Pope Leo XIV and an AI-generated image appearing to depict Trump as Jesus Christ that he shared on Sunday, which he now says is an image of him as a doctor, not as Jesus.
Why Are Pro‑Trump Christian Leaders Speaking Out?
A sitting president of the United States has never previously engaged in a public disagreement with the pope. The conflict between two of the world's most prominent figures escalated on Sunday, with Trump calling Leo, the first American pope, "WEAK on crime" and "terrible for Foreign Policy."
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Pope Leo responded to the comments on the papal plane on Monday, stating that he has "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," according to The New York Times.
Trump also shared an AI-generated image where he appears to be depicted as a Christ-like figure. The image shows Trump wearing a white robe and red shawl and healing a man while surrounded by four people, including a nurse and a soldier. The image also shows eagles, the American flag and the Statue of Liberty. The image was later deleted.
Which Christian Leaders Are Rebuking Trump?
Robert Barron, the bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, said he is "very grateful for the many ways that the Trump administration has reached out to Catholics and other people of faith," but he thinks "the President owes the Pope an apology."
"The statements made by President Trump on Truth Social regarding the Pope were entirely inappropriate and disrespectful. They don’t contribute at all to a constructive conversation. It is the Pope’s prerogative to articulate Catholic doctrine and the principles that govern the moral life," Barron said on X.
He recommended that Catholics within the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, meet with Vatican officials "so that a real dialogue can take place."
Douglas Wilson, a minister of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, said on X, "I was very grateful to see how many conservative Christians immediately denounced the blasphemous Jesus/Trump image."
Wilson led a worship service at the Pentagon in February, and he said he was invited by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CNN reported.
Reverend Tony Suarez, a longtime member of the president's evangelical advisory board, told Religion News Service, “The image is disappointing and shouldn’t have been posted."
He said it is "an offense to allude or depict that a human can compare to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," according to the outlet.
“I’m sure the post has grieved and offended my Catholic friends and family which I find regrettable,” Suarez told the outlet. “While everyone, including the President, is entitled to share their opinion, I humbly disagree with what was posted.”
Suarez also said that Leo is “so loved by the people” and a “man of compassion who desires peace,” according to the outlet.
What Did Trump Say About Pope Leo?
Trump said on Truth Social on Sunday, "Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy. He talks about 'fear' of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart. I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA. He gets it, and Leo doesn’t!"
The president continued, "I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country. And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History."
Trump added that Leo "should be thankful."
"He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican," Trump said.
Trump said Leo "should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician," adding that "it’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!"
What Has Trump Said About the Image?
Speaking to reporters outside of the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said he posted the photo but claimed it was meant to depict him as a doctor, dismissing suggestions it portrayed him as Jesus Christ as a fabrication by “fake news.”
The president said, in part, "It wasn't a depiction. I did post it and I thought it was me as a doctor. And had to do with Red Cross as a Red Cross worker, which we support, and only the fake news could come up with that one."
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