President Trump on Monday deleted a social media post that appeared to depict himself as Jesus after the image sparked a backlash from the Christian right.
The president said the image actually was supposed to depict him as a doctor healing a sick person. Speaking with reporters at the White House, Mr. Trump said he posted the image himself, but thought it showed him as a physician.
“I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with the Red Cross, as a Red Cross worker,” Mr. Trump said.
Referring to widespread complaints from religious leaders and supporters that the image was blasphemous, Mr. Trump said, “Only the fake news could come up with that one. I just heard about it, and I said, ’How did they come up with that?’”
“It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better. And I do make people better. I make people a lot better,” Mr. Trump said.
Shortly after posting a tirade against Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, Mr. Trump posted what appeared to be an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ. The image depicted Mr. Trump in a traditional white robe and red sash healing a man while surrounded by four adoring people, including a nurse and soldier. In the background, an eagle flew in front of the U.S. flag to the left, and soldiers appeared to be ascending toward Heaven, with an eagle flying next to military jets to the right.
The image also included Mr. Trump holding an orb glowing with light in one hand, while the other hand rested on the forehead of a sick man, as Mr. Trump appeared to pray for his healing.
The image drew swift outrage from conservatives, including former Trump ally-turned-foe and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican.
“It’s more than blasphemy,” Ms. Greene, who resigned from Congress in January, wrote on X. “It’s an Antichrist spirit.”
Megan Basham, a prominent conservative Protestant writer and commentator, also blasted the post.
“I don’t know if the president thought he was being funny or if he is under the influence of some substance or what possible explanation he could have for this OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy,” she wrote on X. “But this needs to be taken down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God.”
Another X user wrote, “If you call yourself a Christian and you’re not outraged by this, you really need to re-evaluate your faith.”
Riley Gaines, a conservative podcaster who has spoken at Trump allies, also criticized the post.
“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,” Ms. Gaines wrote on X, adding “a little humility would serve him well” and “God shall not be mocked.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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