US President Donald Trump has shared an AI-generated image showing him depicted as Jesus Christ.
Posted on Truth Social, the image shows Trump in robes surrounded by bright light, appearing to perform a healing.
The post came after Trump criticised Pope Leo XIV.
On Truth Social, Trump called the pope “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy” after the pontiff urged an end to growing global conflicts.
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” Trump wrote.
“He talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the fear that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian organisations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else for holding church services.”
Trump also attacked the pope’s views on nuclear weapons and US military actions, and suggested his election was politically influenced because he is American.
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States,” he said.
“And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History.
“Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.
“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican. Unfortunately, Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me.”
In further comments to reporters, Trump said he is “not a fan” of the pope.
“I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess. He’s a very liberal person,” he added.
Pope Leo, during prayers at St Peter’s Basilica, called for peace amid rising global tensions and warned against a “delusion of omnipotence” driving wars.
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life,” he said.
On X, the pope urged an end to the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, saying peace must come through dialogue.
He also condemned war justification in God’s name: “God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs,” he wrote.
The disagreement also links to migration and global conflict issues. Leo has criticised mass deportations in the US as inhumane, and has repeatedly condemned war violence, including the Iran conflict, calling it unjust.
Since his 2025 election as the first American pope, relations with Trump worsened despite Trump first calling it a “great honour”.
The latest AI image adds to earlier tensions, including a 2025 post where Trump shared an AI image of himself as a pope, later reshared by the White House.
