On Sunday, former U.S. President Donald Trump shared an image on his Truth Social platform that appears to be generated by artificial intelligence. The picture portrays him as Jesus Christ, performing a healing gesture over a bedridden patient.
Interestingly, Trump did not accompany the image with any explanatory text.
In this AI-crafted scene, Trump is depicted among military personnel, healthcare workers, and a praying civilian woman. The American flag, two soaring eagles, angelic soldiers, the Statue of Liberty, and various iconic U.S. landmarks are visible in the background.
The image surfaced shortly after Trump launched a scathing attack on Pope Leo XIV via the same social media platform. Trump criticized the pontiff for being "WEAK on crime and terrible in foreign policy," advising him to focus on his papal duties rather than politics, and warning against pandering to the "radical left" for the sake of the Catholic Church's integrity.
Trump's rebuke came in response to Leo XIV's condemnation of threats to "wipe out" Iran and his call for a ceasefire in the region. Trump expressed a clear stance against a pope who supports Iran acquiring nuclear weapons or opposes U.S. military action against Venezuela. The pope, en route to Algeria, responded by emphasizing the Church's moral obligation to oppose war and his fearlessness in speaking out.
The timing of this image's release during Easter Week adds to its symbolic weight. That same evening, Trump shared another AI-generated image depicting one of his trademark skyscrapers as a rocket on the moon, seemingly alluding to the successful return of the Artemis II mission, which marked humanity's return to lunar orbit since 1972.
This isn't Trump's first foray into AI-generated imagery. In May 2025, just before the conclave that elected Leo XIV—American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—Trump posted an image of himself dressed as the pope with the caption, "I think I would make a great Pope. Nobody would do it better than me." Cardinal Timothy Dolan criticized this post as frivolous and disrespectful.
Trump's history of AI-generated images on Truth Social includes a depiction as Superman, shared by the White House in July 2025, and a Time magazine cover with the title "Long Live the King," posted in February 2025. Additionally, in January 2026, he shared an image featuring European leaders, with a map showing Canada, Greenland, Cuba, and Venezuela draped in the American flag.
These posts are part of a communication strategy blending religious symbolism, military might, and national grandeur, sparking ongoing debates about the boundaries between religion, politics, and technology in today's political discourse.
Exploring the Impact of AI-Generated Images in Politics
What was the AI-generated image of Trump meant to represent?
The image symbolically depicted Trump as Jesus Christ performing a healing gesture, surrounded by patriotic and religious imagery, possibly reflecting his self-styled role as a savior figure.
How did Trump criticize Pope Leo XIV?
Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV for being weak on crime and ineffective in foreign policy, urging him to focus on papal duties and warning against engaging with the "radical left."
What other AI-generated images has Trump shared?
Trump has previously shared images of himself as Superman, a Time magazine cover titled "Long Live the King," and a map with several countries under the American flag, among others.