Washington: US President Donald Trump has triggered fresh controversy after sharing an AI-generated image portraying himself as Jesus Christ on his social media platform Truth Social.
In the image, Trump is shown in biblical attire, placing his hand on a sick person as if healing them, with light emerging from his fingers.
The post comes amid an escalating war of words between Trump and Pope Leo XIV. The Pope had criticised the US-Iran conflict, prompting a sharp response from Trump, who called him “too liberal” and accused him of being soft on crime.
Trump also remarked that if he were not in the White House, the Pope might not have remained in the Vatican—further intensifying the dispute.
The AI image has drawn strong reactions from religious groups, many of whom criticised the use of sacred symbolism for political messaging. Critics said portraying himself as Jesus was offensive to Christian beliefs.
However, Trump’s supporters defended the post, describing it as digital satire rather than a serious claim.
