US President Donald Trump is facing growing backlash after posting an AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure and launching a series of social media attacks on Pope Leo XIV, drawing criticism from across the Christian political spectrum.<\/p>\n
The image, shared on Trump\u2019s Truth Social platform on Sunday and deleted on Monday, showed him in a white robe placing a hand on a man\u2019s head in a scene resembling a healing. It was posted after a separate message in which Trump criticised the pope<\/a>, calling him \u201cweak on crime\u201d and \u201cterrible for foreign policy\u201d.<\/p>\n Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list<\/p>\n Later, Trump told reporters that, though he had posted the image, he thought it depicted him \u201cas a doctor\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd had to do with the Red Cross as a Red Cross worker, which we support. And only the fake news could come up with that one,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He also said he does not \u201cwant a Pope who criticises the President of the United States\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to get into a debate with him,\u201d Pope Leo said on Monday en route to Algiers, where the first US-born pontiff is beginning an 11-day visit to four African countries<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote \u2060peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states \u2060to look for just \u2060solutions to problems,\u201d Pope Leo said.<\/p>\n \u201cToo many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to \u200cstand \u200cup and say there\u2019s a better way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Pope Leo is not his rival\u2019<\/p>\n Tensions between the White House and the Vatican have been building for months, particularly over the US administration\u2019s hardline immigration policies, its military actions, and the US-Israel war on Iran.<\/p>\n Senior Catholic leaders in the US also pushed back against Trump\u2019s remarks on the pope.<\/p>\n \u201cI am disheartened that the President chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father.\u00a0Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician,\u201d Archbishop Paul S Coakley, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls,\u201d Coakley added.<\/p>\n In Las Vegas, Archbishop George Leo Thomas said he was \u201cgrateful to God for sending us Pope Leo XIV, who is willing to speak truth to power just when we need him the most\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cPope Leo is calling for dialogue over diatribe, prayer over politics, and diplomacy above destruction,\u201d Thomas added.<\/p>\n Internationally, Trump\u2019s remarks have also drawn condemnation. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the US president\u2019s attack on Pope Leo was \u201cunacceptable\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI find President Trump\u2019s words towards the Holy Father unacceptable. The pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn every form of war,\u201d she said in a statement.<\/p>\n Criticism from conservatives<\/p>\n The backlash was not limited to church leaders, with several conservative figures also criticising Trump\u2019s posts, particularly the AI-generated image.<\/p>\n Brilyn Hollyhand, a former co-chair of the Republican National Committee Youth Advisory Council, wrote on X:<\/p>\n \u201cThis is gross blasphemy. Faith is not a prop. You don\u2019t need to portray yourself as a saviour when your record should speak for itself.\u201d<\/p>\n Riley Gaines, a FOX News host, a former collegiate swimmer and outspoken critic of transgender athletes in women\u2019s sports who has appeared with Trump at rallies, also questioned the post<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cDoes he actually think this?\u201d she wrote. \u201cEither way, two things are true: 1) a little humility would serve him well, 2) God shall not be mocked.\u201d<\/p>\n Megan Basham, a columnist for the conservative outlet Daily Wire, described the post as \u201cOUTRAGEOUS blasphemy<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if the President thought he was being funny or if he is under the influence of some substance or what possible explanation he could have for this,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n She demanded Trump \u201ctake this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God\u201d.<\/p>\n