Donald Trump sparked backlash after posting — and then deleting — a controversial AI-generated image on Truth Social. The post appeared just one day before a planned U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz. The image depicted Trump in a highly stylized, religious scene resembling Jesus, which many critics and even some supporters found inappropriate and unsettling.
The artwork showed Trump dressed in white and red robes, placing his hand on a sick man as if performing a healing. Surrounding the scene were patriotic and symbolic elements, including a large American flag, bald eagles, the Statue of Liberty, a nurse, a praying woman, and shadowy soldiers descending from the sky. The image was originally shared in February by influencer Nick Adams, who framed it as a metaphor for Trump “healing” America. However, the version Trump posted included a notable difference: the soldiers above him appeared as horned, demon-like figures.
The reaction was swift and critical, with many calling the image bizarre, offensive, and even “satanic.” Some supporters publicly expressed regret over backing Trump, while commentators like Sonny Bunch criticized the post as tone-deaf. The controversy intensified as it coincided with Trump’s public dispute with Pope Leo XIV, whom he had recently attacked over comments about Iran, further fueling tensions and debate around the incident.