US President Donald Trump has deleted an AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure, which drew widespread criticism even from some religious conservatives who typically support him.
The post on Trump’s Truth Social platform came amid his escalating feud with Pope Leo, who has criticised the US-Israeli war against Iran as inhumane.
Shortly before publishing the image, the president posted a lengthy screed against Pope Leo, calling him “WEAK on crime and terrible for Foreign Policy".
Leo, the first US-born pope, said in response to Trump’s attacks that he had “no fear” of the Trump administration and would continue to speak out. In a forceful speech on Monday in Algiers, he denounced “neo-colonial” world powers who are violating international law, without specifically referring to the United States.
Sunday’s post, depicting Trump in a white robe with an apparently healing hand on a prone man's head, could create a rift between Trump and the religious right, whose support was critical to his victory in the 2024 election.
In the painting-like image, Trump holds a glowing orb in one hand and uses his other hand to touch a seemingly sick man on the forehead. The Statue of Liberty, fireworks, a fighter jet and eagles could be seen in the background.
The post was removed on Monday morning. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer and outspoken critic of transgender athletes in women’s sports who has appeared with Trump at rallies, wrote on X she could not understand why Trump posted the image.
“Does he actually think this?” she wrote.
“Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God shall not be mocked.”
After Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt in July 2024, some evangelical supporters said it was evidence he had been blessed by God.
In 2025, after the death of Pope Francis, Trump posted an image showing himself as pope, prompting outrage from many Catholics.
In recent weeks, Leo has become one of the most prominent critics of the war in Iran, even making an unusual direct appeal to Trump and urging him to find an “off-ramp".
Trump also feuded at times with Leo’s predecessor, Francis, who publicly opposed Trump’s deportation campaign as un-Christian.
At least eight members of Trump's cabinet are Catholic, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Meanwhile, Italian political and church figures have rallied behind Leo after Trump criticised the pontiff, leaving Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to balance Italy's close ties to the Vatican and her own alliance with the US leader.
"I find President Trump's 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," she said.
Meloni was the only European leader to attend Trump's inauguration in 2025 and she had hoped their friendship would boost her standing at home and abroad.
However, Trump risks becoming a liability, with 66 per cent of Italians having a negative view of the US leader.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who has also in the past associated himself closely with Trump, also distanced himself from the Trump on Monday.
"Pope Leo is a spiritual leader for billions of Catholics, but beyond that, if there is one person striving for peace, it is Pope Leo, and so attacking him does not seem either wise or helpful," he said in a statement.
