US President Donald Trump has deleted an AI-generated image he posted on Truth Social that depicted him in a messianic light after it sparked sharp criticism, including from some of his Christian supporters.
The image, before it was deleted on Monday, showed Trump dressed in a flowing white robe, extending a glowing hand to heal a sick man lying in a hospital bed.
The dramatic scene included the Statue of Liberty, a giant American flag, fighter jets, an eagle, a praying woman, a nurse, and a soldier — evoking strong religious imagery of Jesus performing miracles.
Trump later defended the post, telling reporters it was simply meant to show him “as a doctor making people better.”
“I do make people better. I make people a lot better,” he insisted, refusing to apologise.
The post came shortly after Trump criticised Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, who openly condemned the US and Israeli military actions in Iran as causing “absurd and inhuman violence.”
The Pope, currently on a major tour in Africa, responded by saying he has “no fear” of the Trump administration and will continue speaking the message of the Gospel.
The image drew backlash from prominent Christian voices and Trump allies, including Sean Feucht, a Christian activist, who demanded that the image be deleted immediately.
“This should be deleted immediately. There’s no context where this is acceptable,” Feucht wrote on X.
Christian Broadcasting Network journalist David Brody said the post “goes too far” and “crosses the line,” adding that supporters can back Trump’s mission without endorsing such imagery.
Even some of Trump’s most loyal followers described the image as crossing a religious boundary.
This is not the first time Trump’s Truth Social account has stirred controversy. In February, a racist AI-generated clip showing former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes was posted and later removed after public outcry.
