Donald Trump Removes Controversial Truth Social Image After Political Backlash
US President Donald Trump deleted a divisive post on his Truth Social platform that portrayed him as a Christ-like figure, following sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. The AI-generated image, which showed Trump appearing to heal a sick man in a hospital bed, ignited fierce reactions, even from some of his most loyal supporters.
The visual depicted Trump in a white robe, with a glowing hand on the forehead of a patient, echoing traditional depictions of Jesus in religious art. The background incorporated the Statue of Liberty, an American flag, fighter jets, and an eagle, along with a nurse, a praying woman, and a soldier in uniform. Trump initially thought the image showed him as a medical professional, stating it was meant to represent “me as a doctor” alongside a Red Cross worker.
“It’s supposed to be as a doctor making people better,” he said. “And I do make people better. I make people a lot better.”
Critics, including faith-based figures and media outlets, swiftly condemned the image. Sean Feucht, a Christian activist, wrote, “This should be deleted immediately. There’s no context where this is acceptable,” while Riley Gaines, a prominent conservative, declared, “God shall not be mocked.”
David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network also criticized the post, asserting, “This goes too far. It crosses the line,” and suggested supporters should reject the imagery while endorsing the mission.
The post emerged hours after Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV, a vocal opponent of U.S. and Israeli military actions in Iran. Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, has repeatedly condemned the conflict, calling it a source of “absurd and inhuman violence.” Speaking Monday, the pope stated he had “no fear” of the Trump administration, emphasizing his commitment to “speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel.”
Trump did not apologize, insisting, “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.”
Earlier in February, a similar controversy arose when a racist clip portraying Barack and Michelle Obama as apes was posted to Trump’s account. The White House initially labeled the clip as an “internet meme video,” urging critics to “stop the fake outrage.” However, after strong backlash from Republican senators, the post was removed, with an official citing a “staffer’s erroneous” upload as the cause.
