As of Feb. 28, 2026, we are currently at war with the country of Iran. In these uncertain times, both anti-war protests and nationalist propaganda are certain to be bountiful, especially on social media platforms that are already known to be well-oiled machines for propaganda. However, certain individuals continue to push the boundaries.
While not necessarily a surprise, President Donald Trump’s April 12 tweet has done nothing short of astounding the nation, his supporters and detractors alike. Amidst the war with Iran and a feud with Pope Leo XIV, Trump posted an AI-generated photo of himself positioned like Jesus Christ healing a sick man to the platform Truth Social. The image pictured Trump in cascading white robes and seemingly in possession of divine healing powers, with an American flag, fighter jets and other cultural hallmarks like the Statue of Liberty in the background.
Not only was this image completely inappropriate given Trump’s position as president (and thus the representative) of the United States, his ongoing feud with the Pope and his foreign policy in general, but the act of generating this image alone, directly comparing oneself to an important religious figure, is offensive and blasphemous.
While Trump’s administration claimed this post to be a ‘joke’ made in poor taste, his interview with CNN paints a different picture.
“I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with [the] Red Cross,” Trump remarked. “It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better. And I do make people better.”
Trump claims to identify as a Christian himself and rhetoric of Christian nationalism was highly prevalent in his 2024 election campaign, which is what has his religious supporters most incredulous. Wouldn’t he have known that this post wouldn’t just be made in bad taste but also be considered self-idolatry? Not that this would be the first time Trump’s actions have directly contradicted his own purported beliefs, but this particular action seemed to be a smack in the face for even his most dedicated religious supporters.
Russell Moore of Christianity Today explained, “…the now-deleted Truth Social post was not some break from the usual pattern. Just two weeks before, the senior adviser of the White House Faith Office compared the president to Jesus Christ, with specific references to his betrayal, arrest and crucifixion. If that’s not blasphemy, the word has no meaning.”
At the end of the day, Trump’s beliefs are his own; it’s not up to us as an audience to determine whether or not someone is truly religious. However, when an individual in a position of power bases their platform on traditional American and Christian values and then presents themselves completely differently in their words, actions and social media posts, their integrity should definitely be called into question.
