Facing growing backlash, US President Donald Trump has reportedly deleted a controversial Truth Social post that featured an AI-generated image portraying him in a Jesus-like role.
The image showed Trump appearing to heal a sick man lying in a hospital bed, a depiction that triggered strong criticism across the US political spectrum, including from some of his own supporters.
The post was shared just hours after Trump published a lengthy message attacking Pope Leo XIV, who has been a vocal critic of US and Israeli military operations in Iran.
Trump later confirmed he posted the image, telling reporters he believed it showed “me as a doctor”.
The now-removed image depicted him in a white robe placing a glowing hand on the forehead of a sick patient, a visual critics said closely resembled traditional religious artwork of Jesus healing the sick.
The background included the Statue of Liberty, a waving US flag, fighter jets, an eagle, a nurse, a praying woman, and what appeared to be a uniformed soldier.
Speaking after the post was taken down, Trump said he thought the image was meant to portray him as a doctor alongside a Red Cross worker.
“It’s supposed to be as a doctor making people better,” he said. “And I do make people better. I make people a lot better.”
