New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has been at the centre of yet another controversy since last week. This time, it’s over a now-deleted X post depicting him as a supposed religious leader that ignited a firestorm on social media, including condemnation from the Pope.
On late Sunday, Trump shared an AI-generated image of him resembling religious art, depicting himself in flowing robes, placing a hand on a sick man as if to heal him. Surrounding him were a soldier, a nurse, and a woman with folded hands praying.
And, iconic American symbols—the Statue of Liberty, the Lincoln Memorial, and the national flag—could be seen in the background. Many interpreted the image as Trump presenting himself in a Christ-like role or as the second coming of Jesus on Easter Sunday.
Trump has, however, dismissed the criticism, claiming that the image showed him as a doctor.
“It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better. And I do make people better. I make people a lot better,” he said at a press briefing Monday outside the White House.
Trump also made a more direct claim: God supports the US in its ongoing conflict with Iran. Senior officials in Trump’s administration echoed this tone. On 6 April, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described a military rescue mission as an “Easter-style miracle” while drawing comparisons to the resurrection of Jesus.
Pope-Trump faceoff
This is where the clash deepened. Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, responded strongly, without always naming Trump directly. In multiple speeches, including his Easter message, the Pope had made his position clear. He said that God does not support war, and violence cannot be justified in God’s name.
In one such speech, he said, “Those with hands full of blood” cannot expect their prayers to be heard. He also criticised threats against Iran and called for peace, urging leaders to “lay down their weapons.”
Lately, Trump has been hitting out at the Pope, who has been a prominent critic of the war in Iran. He has consistently criticised the US-Israel war on Iran, most recently during the week of April 10-13.
On 13 April, Trump launched a scathing attack on the Pope, stating that he is “weak on crime”, “terrible for foreign policy”, and that “he should get his act together as pope.”
Trump also claimed that Pope Leo was not a top candidate for the papacy and was only chosen because he was American and defended his actions, stating he is fulfilling his election mandate, including managing issues with Venezuela, which he claimed was sending prisoners to the US.
On the very same day, the Pope had slammed the US President. “I have no fear of the Trump administration or of speaking out on the message of the Gospel,” he had said.
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‘It’s an Antichrist spirit’
The image posted on social media triggered reactions not just from critics, but from his own supporters. Some prominent voices within Trump’s support base—often called the MAGA movement—have reacted sharply to his religious imagery, which Trump had to ultimately delete on Monday.
The post generated an outcry from a series of prominent conservative Christians who are among Trump’s biggest backers. Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene decried the implication that he was “replacing Jesus”.
In a separate post, she wrote on X, “It’s not just blasphemy. It’s an Antichrist spirit.”
Riley Gaines, an anti-trans activist, said, “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.”
Mandy Arthur, a Christian influencer, wrote, “God, we might have made a mistake and accidently elected the Antichrist. Send help.”
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X to voice his support for the Pope and condemned Trump for “insulting” the religious figures.
“I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah,” he wrote on X.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)