The US president portrayed himself as a holy healer, while some saw parallels between the recovered man and Jeffrey Epstein.
US President Donald Trump has shared an AI-generated image of himself as a Christ-like figure healing a paralyzed man, flanked by eagles, fighter planes and US service members, with the Statue of Liberty and the US flag in the background. The post sparked backlash, with some users suggesting that the recovering man resembled the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The image was posted on Truth Social on Sunday following Trump’s broad endorsement of Pope Leo XIV, in which he called out the Chicago-born pontiff. “Weak on crime, and terrible at foreign policy.”
In the photo, Trump – lacking the aura – is seen wearing a red and white veil, the colors symbolizing the bloodshed and sacrifice of Jesus Christ for humanity as well as his absolute holiness.
The Pope has previously criticized US-Israeli strikes against Iran and described Trump’s threats to destroy Iranian civilization “Really unacceptable,” This is equivalent to saying “A threat against the entire people.”
The US President – who has described himself as a non-denominational Christian – also noted “We don’t like a Pope who says it’s OK to have nuclear weapons,” adding that he is “Not a fan of Pope Leo.”
Democratic Senator Mark Kelly immediately condemned the remarks. “As a Catholic, I find it disgusting that the President of the United States would publicly attack the Successor of St. Peter”Kelly wrote on X. “Donald Trump is faltering. His war on Iran has led to the deaths and injuries of American soldiers and the deaths of Iranian children.”
Public reaction to Christ-like imagery proved even more strident. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former Republican congresswoman and former Trump aide, said the president’s position was “More than blasphemy,” calling it “An antichrist spirit.”
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While some users scrambled to defend Trump, insisting that his posts had not offended any Christian worshippers, others wondered whether the incarcerated man was Jeffrey Epstein, echoing accusations from Trump’s critics that he started the Iran war partly to distract public attention from the release of millions of documents linked to Epstein.
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Some commentators went even further, sharing a parody AI-image of Trump resurrecting Epstein against a backdrop of praying partner Ghislaine Maxwell, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a giant Israeli flag.
