Trump Shares Image Depicting Himself As Jesus After Calling Pope Leo Weak

US President Donald Trump has triggered global outrage after posting an AI-generated image of himself as a Christ-like figure on Truth Social. The image shows Trump in flowing white robes, performing a miracle by healing a sick man, surrounded by American flags, military aircraft, a bald eagle, and angelic figures. The post followed hours after he unleashed a scathing attack on Pope Leo XIV.

Trump described the pontiff as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.” He accused Pope Leo of being soft on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and criticised the Vatican’s stance on US immigration crackdowns. The feud escalated after the Pope, the first American-born leader of the Catholic Church, called for an end to the Iran conflict and urged restraint on mass deportations.

The timing of Trump’s posts has drawn sharp criticism from Catholic leaders and online users worldwide. Many described the AI image as blasphemous and disrespectful to the faith. Trump had earlier suggested the Pope’s election was influenced by politics, claiming he preferred a more “MAGA” approach from the Vatican.

In Nigeria, home to millions of Catholics especially in the South-East and South-South, the development has sparked heated debates among the faithful. Local clergy and worshippers expressed shock at what they see as an attack on the spiritual leader of over one billion Catholics globally. NaijaChoice News monitoring shows many Nigerians on social media linking the row to broader concerns about US foreign policy and its ripple effects on African diplomacy and migrant communities.

The tensions stem from Pope Leo XIV’s repeated calls for peace in the Middle East and his criticism of Trump’s threats against Iran. The Pope has also spoken against policies that separate families through aggressive deportation drives. Analysts say the public clash highlights deepening divides between the White House and the Vatican on global issues.

As reactions continue to pour in, the Trump-Pope feud shows no signs of easing.