President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image on Truth Social Sunday night that shows him in a Christ-like pose, hand on the forehead of a sick man emitting bright light, escalating his public feud with the first American-born pope over U.S. military actions in Iran.
The image, posted at 7:49 p.m. Central time on April 12, depicts Trump draped in a red-and-white robe amid American flags, soaring eagles, fighter jets, fireworks, the Statue of Liberty and other patriotic symbols. It came hours after Trump sharply criticized Pope Leo XIV on social media, calling the pontiff “weak on crime,” “terrible for foreign policy” and “a very liberal person” who should “stop catering to the Radical Left.”
Trump shares AI-generated image of himself as Christ in feud with Pope Leo XIVCourtesy
Trump added he is “not a fan” of the Chicago-born pope, Robert Prevost, and suggested he focus on religious duties rather than politics.
The dispute erupted in recent days as Pope Leo repeatedly condemned Trump’s threats to “annihilate” Iranian civilization and U.S.-Israeli strikes in the ongoing conflict. In public remarks from Rome, the pope called the threats “truly unacceptable,” warned of a “delusion of omnipotence” driving the war, and declared that “God does not bless any conflict.” He urged de-escalation and dialogue to protect innocent civilians. Trump’s team has defended the actions as necessary for national security and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The exchange marks a rare and unusually personal clash between a sitting U.S. president and the leader of the Catholic Church. Tensions had already simmered over immigration policy, but the Iran war pushed the rhetoric to new levels.
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