Donald Trump's 'AI Jesus' image sparks backlash as Pope Leo responds to president's attacksBBy Brad RyanTopic:World Politics2h ago2 hours agoMon 13 Apr 2026 at 8:22pmDonald Trump and Pope Leo XIV are at odds over the war on Iran. (Reuters)In short:Donald Trump shared an image of himself as a Jesus-like figure on social media, but says the now-deleted post actually depicted him as a doctor.The post exacerbated anger among Catholics and others, including some of his supporters and allies, after the US president earlier insulted Pope Leo online.The pope says he is "not afraid of the Trump administration" and he will keep speaking out against war.US President Donald Trump has been criticised by religious sections of his supporter base after publishing, then deleting, an image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure.The image, published on Truth Social, followed an earlier post attacking Pope Leo for opposing the war on Iran. "Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," Mr Trump wrote.The image showed Mr Trump dressed in white robes and placing his hand on the forehead of a bedridden hospital patient.Donald Trump posted the image on social media, then deleted it soon after. (Truth Social: Donald Trump)After deleting the image, Mr Trump said: "I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor, and it had to do with Red Cross, as a Red Cross worker there, which we support."Both posts prompted demands for an apology from some of Mr Trump's Christian followers."The statements made by President Trump on Truth Social regarding the pope were entirely inappropriate and disrespectful," Minnesota Bishop Robert Barron, a member of the president's Religious Liberty Commission, said. "I think the president owes the pope an apology."Loading Twitter contentArchbishop Paul Coakley, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he was "disheartened that the president chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father"."Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls."Mr Trump said he would not apologise "because Pope Leo said things that are wrong"."He was very much against what I'm doing with regard to Iran, and you cannot have a nuclear Iran. Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result," he said.Mr Trump went on to repeat his criticism that the pope was "weak on crime" and said he preferred the pope's brother, "a big MAGA person".Loading...Backlash in the US and abroadItalian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, one of Mr Trump's closest allies in Europe, issued a statement in defence of the pope."I find President Trump's words towards the Holy Father unacceptable," she said."The pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn every form of war."Conservative youth commentator Brilyn Hollyhand, who co-chaired the Republican National Committee's youth advisory council, called the AI image "gross blasphemy"."Faith is not a prop. You don't need to portray yourself as a savior when your record should speak for itself," he wrote online.Loading Twitter contentPastor Doug Wilson, who recently led a prayer service at the Pentagon and founded the network of churches that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth belongs to, said: "I was very grateful to see how many conservative Christians immediately denounced the blasphemous Jesus/Trump image.""I was also grateful to see how many center/left Christians suddenly agreed that public blasphemy is a thing we should all be concerned about. A bit late, but still good," he added.Pope Leo XIV, pictured in Algeria on Monday, is travelling in Africa. (Reuters: Guglielmo Mangiapane)Pope Leo has been critical of US military action in Iran, and previously expressed concern about the Trump administration's treatment of immigrants and its operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.The first US-born pope, who is travelling in Africa, told reporters aboard the papal plane he was "not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for"."The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone," Pope Leo said, according to the Associated Press. "The message of the Gospel is very clear: 'Blessed are the peacemakers.'"Escalating online rhetoricProvocative and combative social media posting has been characteristic of both of Mr Trump's terms in office.But several of Mr Trump's recent Truth Social posts have generated significant pushback on his own side of politics and prompted opponents to question his mental state.Last week, he used the platform to threaten Iran by saying: "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again."The post was condemned by some Republicans in Congress and multiple high-profile right-wing commentators, including Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly, who Mr Trump subsequently attacked as well.On Easter Sunday, he attempted to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz with a profanity-laden post threatening to bomb power plants and bridges."Open the F***in' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell — JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah."In February, he shared a post depicting former president Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as monkeys.The post was widely condemned as racist. The White House initially dismissed the "fake outrage", but the post was later removed and blamed on a staffer.