Just days after backlash over an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus, President Donald Trump has shared another image appearing to show Jesus embracing him.
The new image depicts Jesus with an arm around the president's shoulder and one hand on his chest in front of a halo of light illuminating the American flag. Their heads are leaning against each other, and both Trump and Jesus appear to have their eyes closed.
The new image also appears to be AI-generated and was originally posted on X by a Trump supporter. Trump posted the picture Wednesday morning with the caption: “The Radical Left Lunatics might not light this, but I think it is quite nice!!! President DJT.”
His message comes amid growing disdain for Trump over the image portraying him as Jesus. The AI image depicted Trump in flowing robes and healing a sick man with beams of light coming out of his hands. Trump is surrounded by patriotic symbols, including an American flag, the Statue of Liberty, and eagles.
His post on Sunday outraged Christian leaders on all political sides of the aisle and church leaders.
“I don’t 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 OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy,” Megan Basham, a conservative writer and commentator, wrote. “But he needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God.”
The original post was deleted from Trump’s Truth Social feed, but the president later defended the post.
“I viewed that as a picture of me being a doctor,” he said. “You know, as a little fun, playing the doctor and making people better. So that’s what it was viewed as. That’s what most people thought.”
His former ally, Marjorie Taylor Greene, said Trump should apologize for the picture.
“As a Christian, I was very offended. And a doctor, President Trump is not a doctor,” said Greene. “I think he should apologize, not act defensive … many Christians across America and the world were very offended by that."