A social media post showing United States Donald Trump portrayed as Jesus has been removed from the president’s account following growing backlash and tension with Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war.
The image, which presented Trump as a Christ-like figure healing the sick while surrounded by American flags and eagles, was shared on Truth Social late Sunday, shortly after he criticised the pope for opposing the war with Iran.
By Monday morning, the post had disappeared from the president’s feed, with the original link now displaying a notice that the “content is no longer available.”
Speaking later at the White House, Trump claimed the image had been misunderstood.
“I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor, and had to do with Red Cross,” he told reporters at the White House.
He dismissed claims that the image depicted him as Jesus, blaming the media for the interpretation.
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“Only the fake news” could come up with that idea, he said.
“I just heard about it, and I said, ‘How did they come up with that?’ It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better. And I do make people better,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV pushed back against the criticism, stating on Monday that he has “no fear of the Trump administration” and will continue to speak out despite the president’s attacks.
The pope, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, has taken a stronger stance on the Iran war in recent days, condemning Trump’s rhetoric towards Iranians last week as “truly unacceptable.”