Washington D.C. – President Donald Trump ignited a media controversy this week after resharing an AI-generated image on social media that critics widely interpreted as portraying him as Jesus Christ. The image, which depicted President Trump in a white robe with a red sash, reaching out towards an ailing American, was removed from his account on April 13, 2026, following escalating public criticism. Both President Trump and prominent evangelical leader Reverend Franklin Graham have publicly refuted the interpretation that the image was intended to depict the President as a religious figure.
"I do not believe President Trump would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ — that would certainly be inappropriate. I’m thankful the President has made it very clear that this was not at all what he thought the AI-generated image was representing — he thought it was a doctor helping someone, and when he learned of the concerns, he immediately removed the post." — Reverend Franklin Graham, Evangelical Leader
The image at the center of the debate featured President Trump with his hand extended towards a person lying on a bed, accompanied by a nurse and a uniformed military servicemember. In the background, an eagle soared alongside fighter aircraft, with the Statue of Liberty and an American flag completing the scene. Almost immediately after President Trump reshared the image, online commentators and media outlets began drawing parallels to religious iconography, suggesting the President was casting himself in a divine role.
Responding to the backlash, President Trump quickly pushed back against the claims, stating his intention was entirely different. "Well, it wasn’t depiction. It was me. I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor, and had to do with Red Cross; there’s a Red Cross worker there, which we support,” President Trump told reporters. He criticized media outlets for their interpretation, adding, "Only the fake news could come up with that one. So I just heard about it, and I said, ‘How do they come up with that?’ It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better.” The post was subsequently removed from his social media account.
Amidst the ongoing debate, Reverend Franklin Graham, son of the late Reverend Billy Graham, offered a measured defense of President Trump, addressing inquiries from his followers. Graham articulated his position clearly, stating, "I do not believe President Trump would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ — that would certainly be inappropriate. I’m thankful the President has made it very clear that this was not at all what he thought the AI-generated image was representing — he thought it was a doctor helping someone, and when he learned of the concerns, he immediately removed the post.”
Graham further elaborated on his reasoning by analyzing the visual elements within the image. He pointed out the absence of traditional religious symbols such as halos, crosses, or scripture, arguing these omissions indicated a non-religious intent. Instead, he highlighted the presence of "a flag, soldiers, a nurse, fighter planes, eagles, the Statue of Liberty," concluding that the controversy was "a lot to do about nothing." He suggested that President Trump’s "enemies are always foaming at the mouth at any possible opportunity to make him look bad."
The evangelical leader also drew attention to a second image President Trump had reshared on Truth Social during the same week. This image depicted Jesus standing beside President Trump, with a hand resting on the President’s shoulder. Graham expressed approval of this particular illustration, stating, "And the illustration from someone else he reposted on Truth Social yesterday, I must say that I like the fact that this is a picture of Jesus whispering in his ear, or at least his hand on his shoulder, guiding him. We all need that — we all need to be listening to Jesus.” President Trump himself appended commentary to this second image, writing, "The Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice!!!" The meme included a caption suggesting divine intervention in current events, stating, "I was never a very religious man … but doesn’t it seem, with all these satanic, demonic, child sacrificing [sic] monsters being exposed … that God might be playing his Trump card!"
Graham reminded the public that President Trump did not create either of the images himself, merely reposted them. "Again, I think there is an attempt to spin this into something that it isn’t. Remember, President Trump didn’t draw this, he didn’t create it, he reposted it on his social media because he thought it was nice — I would have to agree,” Graham noted. He concluded his statement by praising President Trump's record on faith, calling him "the most pro-Christian, pro-life president in my lifetime" and expressing a desire for President Trump and Pope Leo XIV to meet, hoping the Pontiff would acknowledge the administration's efforts in defending religious freedom globally.
This episode unfolded against a backdrop of a separate and developing tension between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV. President Trump had recently publicly criticized the pontiff, labeling him as "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy." The series of social media posts and subsequent reactions underscore the ongoing interplay between political communication, religious interpretation, and media scrutiny in the current public discourse.
