Trump offends supporters with Jesus-like AI image, deletes post

Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself on Truth Social, depicting him as a Jesus Christ-like figure, which drew significant backlash from his conservative Christian supporters. The image showed Trump with divine light emanating from his hands as he healed a man in a hospital bed, with a demon in the background. Following the outcry, Trump deleted the post, which was notable as he typically does not retract his social media statements.

The controversy was compounded by Trump's comments about Pope Leo XIV, whom he labeled 'weak on crime' and suggested should 'stop catering to the radical left.' This exchange followed the Pope's remarks about the US-Israel conflict, where he mentioned a 'delusion of omnipotence' fueling the war on Iran. Trump's subsequent defense of the image, claiming it was meant to depict him as a doctor, did little to quell the anger among his supporters, some of whom called the post 'disgusting' and 'blasphemous.'

This incident exposes a fracture within Trump's base, particularly among conservative Christians who have been pivotal to his political success. By offending this group, Trump risks losing crucial support as he navigates the political landscape leading up to the next election. The deletion of the post indicates a rare acknowledgment of backlash, suggesting that even Trump recognizes the need to maintain his core support base.

What to watch: Trump's upcoming interactions with conservative Christian leaders could signal whether he seeks to mend fences or further alienate this critical voter demographic.