Trump deletes image critics said depicted him as Jesus amid feud with Pope Leo

President Trump deleted an image from his Truth Social account that critics said depicted him as Jesus Christ after it drew backlash from Catholic leaders and others. Trump said it was meant to show him as a doctor.

The image showed Trump in a robe-like outfit standing over a patient, with patriotic and religious imagery in the background. It was posted Sunday night and was deleted by Monday.

Asked by reporters on Monday if he had posted a picture of himself depicted as Jesus Christ, Trump said: “Well, it wasn’t a depiction. It was me. I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor and the Red Cross, as a Red Cross worker, which we support. Only the fake news could come up with that one.”

“It was supposed to be me as a doctor making people better, and I do people better,” Trump added. “I make people a lot better.”

The deleted post came after Trump attacked Pope Leo in a late-night Truth Social message, calling him “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy” and accusing him of being wrong to criticize U.S. policy, including the military operation against Iran.

Trump also said he preferred the pope’s brother Louis because he supports MAGA. He said he does not want a pope who disagrees with his stance on Iran, condemns the U.S. attack on Venezuela or criticizes him for carrying out the policies he says voters elected him to pursue.

“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,” Trump added.

Pope Leo answered when asked about Trump’s criticism, saying: “I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the Church is here to do. We are not politicians. We don’t deal with foreign policy with the same perspective he might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker.”

Asked by reporters if he would apologize to Pope Leo, Trump said no.

“Because Pope Leo said things that were wrong… I think he is very weak on crime, and other things. He went public, I’m just responding to Pope Leo… There is nothing to apologize for, he is wrong,” Trump said.

The backlash included criticism from Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, who said Trump’s recent statements and actions showed “a grave misunderstanding of the Holy Father’s ministry and a troubling lack of respect for the faith of millions.”

“The graphic exploitation of sacred imagery is deeply offensive and undermines the reverence owed to what believers hold most dear,” Tobin added.