US President Donald Trump deleted an AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure from his Truth Social platform on Monday. The removal follows a wave of criticism from religious leaders who labeled the post blasphemous.
The post, which appeared on Sunday, April 12, 2026, drew condemnation from religious conservatives who typically support the President. According to France24, the incident has caused widespread dismay among US Catholics.
This social media controversy follows an unprecedented verbal assault by Trump against Pope Leo XIV. The Pope, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, has been a vocal critic of the war involving US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which he described as inhumane.
International backlash
The tension between the White House and the Vatican is drawing sharp criticism from the European press. In Italy, media outlets have reacted strongly to the President's rhetoric.
France24 reported that Italian newspapers have characterized the President's actions as a "shocking attack." The diplomatic friction between the US administration and the papacy continues to intensify as the conflict in the Middle East persists.
