Trump Deletes Post Depicting Himself as Jesus After Follower Backlash
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WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump removed a post from his Truth Social account on Sunday depicting himself as Jesus Christ healing a man, following immediate criticism from his own supporters.
The image, posted late Sunday afternoon, showed the President in a white robe with a halo, standing over a kneeling figure. The caption read, "Healing the sick, just like Jesus would. God bless America." Within minutes of the upload, the post drew sharp rebuke from conservative commentators and long-time allies who took to the platform to express discomfort with the religious imagery.
Trump's administration has maintained a strict separation between his political messaging and overt religious symbolism, despite the President's frequent references to faith in campaign speeches. The deletion of the post occurred approximately 45 minutes after it was published, with the account remaining silent on the matter since.
The incident marks a rare instance of the President retracting content due to internal pressure from his base. Supporters on Truth Social argued that the comparison diminished the sanctity of religious figures and could alienate moderate voters ahead of the upcoming election cycle. "We don't need the President playing God," wrote one prominent conservative influencer, whose comment was shared thousands of times before the post was taken down.
Trump's communications team did not issue a statement regarding the removal. The White House press office declined to comment when approached for clarification on the decision.
The post had generated over 100,000 interactions before its deletion, with reactions split between those who viewed it as a bold statement of faith and those who saw it as a misstep. Religious leaders across the spectrum have not yet publicly addressed the incident, though some evangelical groups have privately expressed concern over the blending of political and religious iconography.
As of Monday morning, the post remained unavailable on the platform, with no indication of whether it will be reposted or addressed in future communications. The incident has sparked broader discussions about the boundaries of political messaging and the role of religion in American public life.
Observers note that Trump's social media strategy has increasingly relied on provocative imagery to engage his base, but this instance suggests a limit to that approach. Whether the deletion signals a shift in tone or a one-time correction remains unclear as the administration moves forward with its legislative agenda.