A now-deleted AI-generated image shared by Donald Trump that critics breathlessly claimed portrayed him as Jesus Christ. Enter Rev. Franklin Graham, who stepped in Thursday with a dose of reality — and a not-so-subtle jab at the outrage industrial complex.
“I do not believe President Trump would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ — that would certainly be inappropriate,” Graham wrote in a statement the president posted to Truth Social.
According to Graham, Trump thought the image showed “a doctor helping someone,” not some messianic self-portrait cooked up by critics eager for their next viral tantrum. Once the noise started, the post was pulled. End of story — or at least it should have been.
Instead, the media and Trump’s usual chorus of detractors treated it like a five-alarm fire.
“There were no spiritual references — no halo, there were no crosses, no angels,” he pointed out. “It was a flag, soldiers, a nurse, fighter planes, eagles. … I think this is a lot to do about nothing.”
That didn’t stop the spin cycle from going full throttle. Another image Trump reposted — one depicting Jesus with a hand on his shoulder — was also dragged into the controversy. Graham, for one, saw it differently.
“I must say that I like the fact that this is a picture of Jesus whispering in his ear or at least His hand on his shoulder, guiding him,” he said. “We all need that — we all need to be listening to Jesus.” Hardly heresy — unless you’re determined to find it.
The original uproar kicked off Sunday night, when the AI image hit Truth Social and critics from both sides of the aisle pounced. Some conservatives even joined the dogpile, with sports commentator Riley Gaines suggesting “humility” might be in order, while others labeled the post “blasphemy.”
On the left, the reaction was as predictable as sunrise. Cenk Uygur called it “blasphemous,” while NBC’s Richard Engel wondered aloud if Trump was joking — as if humor itself now requires a panel discussion.
Trump, for his part, brushed it off. “I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor. … Only the fake news could come up with that one,” he said. “It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better.”
And just like that, the post was gone — but the outrage lingered, because of course it did.
All of this is unfolding against the backdrop of Trump’s escalating war of words with Pope Leo XIV, whom Trump blasted as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.” The pope, in turn, has made clear he’s not exactly trembling in his vestments.
Graham, ever the diplomat, struck a more hopeful tone: “I would hope that the President and Pope Leo can meet at some point, and that the Pope would have the opportunity to thank President Trump for his efforts to protect religious liberty.”
That’s one way to lower the temperature — though in today’s climate, good luck with that.
