President Donald Trump drew criticism from several conservative and Christian figures after posting, then deleting, an AI-generated image that appeared to depict him as Jesus healing the sick.
The image, which was shared to Trump’s Truth Social account on Sunday night, showed him in white robes with a red sash, placing his hand on a man in a hospital bed while a bright glow surrounded the scene. An American flag, bald eagles, fighter jets and the Statue of Liberty also appeared in the image. The post was deleted late Monday morning.
When asked about it, Trump told reporters, “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.
“It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better,” he continued. “And I do make people better.”
The backlash came from figures who are often aligned with Trump politically, making the response notable.
Riley Gaines wrote on X that she did not understand why Trump would post the image.
“Why? Seriously, I cannot understand why he’d post this. Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this?” Gaines wrote. “Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God shall not be mocked.”
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 https://t.co/GViHqWeDEr— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 13, 2026
Daily Wire host Michael Knowles also called for the post to be removed.
“I assume someone has already told him, but it behooves the President both spiritually and politically to delete the picture, no matter the intent,” Knowles wrote.
I assume someone has already told him, but it behooves the President both spiritually and politically to delete the picture, no matter the intent.
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) April 13, 2026
Worship leader Sean Feucht posted, “This should be deleted immediately. There’s no context where this is acceptable.”
This should be deleted immediately.
There’s no context where this is acceptable. https://t.co/XrcpiBV1O0
— Sean Feucht (@seanfeucht) April 13, 2026
Journalist Ethan Levins was even more direct, writing, “He’s openly mocking Christians now. His mockery of Jesus Christ is unforgivable.”
He’s openly mocking Christians now.
His mockery of Jesus Christ is unforgivable. pic.twitter.com/tqGCfdRE02
— Ethan Levins 🇺🇸 (@EthanLevins2) April 13, 2026
Rev. Benjamin Cremer also criticized the image, writing that Trump was “literally presenting himself as Jesus” and arguing that many Christians would have responded differently if a Democratic president had shared the same kind of post.
If attacking Pope Leo online then posting an AI generated picture of himself as Jesus doesn’t convince you that the president has zero respect for Christianity, after all that has happened up to now, I can safely say you do not care about the truth.
— Rev. Benjamin Cremer (@Brcremer) April 13, 2026
Even Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized it. In a post on X, Greene connected the image to Trump’s recent attacks on the pope and wrote, “I completely denounce this and I’m praying against it!!!”
It’s more than blasphemy.
It’s an Antichrist spirit. https://t.co/Lqd9GkBPmO— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) April 13, 2026
The post also drew criticism from conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey, who shared a reaction image in response.
https://t.co/5gKPCD7Alj pic.twitter.com/ucwe34JgyY
— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) April 13, 2026
Christian author Dan McClellan also provided further context to Trump’s depiction in the image, refuting the president’s claims that he was dressed as a Red Cross worker.
For anyone wondering what identifies Trump here as Jesus (besides divine powers of healing in his palms, etc.), Trump is dressed like Del Parson’s Jesus, complete with the “robe dipped in blood,” which is a representation quite familiar to contemporary Christian nationalists. https://t.co/Ccsj6MOijn pic.twitter.com/LBMXmeO7YO
— Dan McClellan (@maklelan) April 13, 2026
