Trump's AI Christ-like image sparks backlash: 'God shall not be mocked'

An AI image US President Donald Trump posted of himself as a Christ-like figure came under widespread criticism, with one commentator saying, "God shall not be mocked" while a former Italian premier called it "blasphemous." The image, posted Sunday on Truth Social, is not the first time Trump has used AI for online trolling, but this instance struck a nerve, even among some onetime followers.

Catholic backlash

The image came around the time Trump also called Pope Leo XIV "weak" and said, "if I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican," stirring ire among religiously minded people who normally make up part of Trump's base. "Not even Hitler or Mussolini attacked the pope so directly and publicly," said Massimo Faggioli, a prominent Italian theologian. Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called the image "crazy" and, as a Catholic, considered it "blasphemous."

Conservative criticism

American conservative commentator Riley Gaines wrote on X: "Seriously, I cannot understand why he'd post this. Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this? A little humility would serve him well. God shall not be mocked." The Knights Templar International, a UK-based Christian group, demanded the offensive image be removed immediately, calling for a public apology to Christians.

Trump's response

Trump later removed the image, which is unusual for him, and claimed it had actually been meant to depict him as a "doctor healing people," though the image included telltale Christian symbols and marks of divinity. On The Daily Show, host Jon Stewart mocked Trump's defense, joking that he has gone from grand conspiracies to claiming: "Eh, no, I wasn't Jesus. I'm a doctor!"