United States (US) President Donald Trump has sparked fresh global controversy after posting an AI-generated image portraying himself as Jesus Christ, deepening tensions with Pope Leo XIV.
The development came shortly after Trump reacted angrily to the Pope’s renewed call for peace in the Middle East and criticism of global leaders amid rising violence.
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said, “I’m not a big fan of Pope Leo. He’s a very liberal person, and he’s a man that doesn’t believe in stopping crime.”
The Pope, addressing worshippers at St. Peter’s Basilica, had urged an end to global conflict, declaring: “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”
Trump later escalated his criticism on Truth Social, writing, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” while also accusing him of being “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.”
He further claimed the pontiff was elected “because he was an American” and suggested, “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
The controversy intensified after Trump shared the AI-generated Jesus-like image of himself, a move critics say adds to a pattern of provocative digital content from the White House and its supporters.