WASHINGTON — A photo posted on President Donald Trump’s Truth Social page, which depicted him as Jesus healing a man, was deleted after receiving backlash, including from some of his own supporters.
The image, shared on Sunday night, portrayed Trump in a robe, placing his hand on the forehead of a bedridden man. A halo of light encircled Trump’s head, while an orb of light floated in the president’s other hand. The backdrop featured an American flag and the Statue of Liberty.
Asked by a reporter on Monday whether he posted the picture, Trump said, “I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor.”
“I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor,” he said. “It has to do with Red Cross, it’s a Red Cross worker there, which we support…it’s supposed to be me as a doctor. Making people better, and I do make people better. I make people a lot better.”
“Only the fake news could come up with that one, so I just heard about it, and I said, ‘How did they come up with that?’” Trump added. “It’s supposed to be me as a doctor.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a question from FWRD AXIS News about the deleted post.
The Truth Social post came shortly after Trump criticized Pope Leo, saying “I’m not a big fan of Pope Leo” and saying the American pontiff is “weak on crime”.
Asked by a reporter on Monday whether he would apologize to Leo, Trump said no.
“No, I don’t, because Pope Leo said things that are wrong,” Trump said. “He was very much against what I’m doing with with regard to Iran, and you cannot have a nuclear Iran, Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result.”
In the hours following Trump’s post of the picture, it received backlash, even from conservatives who have supported the president, for Trump’s comparison to God or Jesus Christ.
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called the post “an Antichrist spirit.” Conservative activist Riley Gaines said she “cannot understand why he’d post this.”
“Is he looking for a response?” she said in a post. “Does he actually think this? Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God shall not be mocked.”
Last year, Trump shared an image that was AI-generated, portraying himself as the pope. This post also drew criticism from Catholics, who were grieving the recent death of Pope Francis.
Trump has in the past compared himself to Jesus, including at an Easter luncheon this year.
“On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem as crowds welcomed him with praise, honouring him as king,” he said in a video that was posted and later removed from the White House YouTube page. “They call me king now. Can you believe it?”
