Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump shared a digital image on Wednesday depicting Jesus Christ embracing him, the latest salvo in an escalating rhetorical confrontation between his administration and Pope Leo XIV.

The image, shared to the president’s Truth Social account, portrays Trump with his eyes closed in a temple-to-temple pose with Jesus. The president is shown standing behind a microphone with an American flag in the background. The original post featured the caption, “God might be playing his Trump card!” to which the president added: “The Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice!!!”

The post follows the removal of a different AI-generated image earlier this week that drew widespread condemnation for its messianic undertones.

The Feud with the Holy See

Despite not being a regular churchgoer, Trump maintains a robust following among Christian and Catholic voters. His current friction with Pope Leo—the first American-born pontiff—centres on the religious leader's vocal opposition to the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

On Tuesday night, Trump utilised social media to urge that “someone please tell Pope Leo” about the violent suppression of protesters by the Iranian government, asserting that "for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable."

Vice President J.D. Vance, a Catholic convert, also challenged the pontiff’s recent theological assertions. Vance criticised the Pope’s suggestion that followers of Christ are “never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs,” stating that “it’s very, very important for the Pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology.”

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A Defiant Pontiff

Pope Leo XIV has maintained a defiant posture, stating he has “no fear” of the American administration. During a forceful address Monday in Algiers, the pontiff condemned “neocolonial” powers for violating international law, though he did not mention the United States by name.

While the public reaction to Wednesday’s social media post was more subdued than the outcry earlier in the week, high-profile Catholic organisations and political leaders have continued to debate the administration's stance.

On Wednesday morning, Patrick Kelly, the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, issued a statement in defence of the Pope. “Pope Leo XIV has consistently called for peace, dialogue, and restraint in a world marked by war and suffering,” Kelly said. “The Holy Father’s words are not political talking points — they are reflections of the Gospel itself.”

Theological Disputes in Washington

House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the administration’s right to criticise the religious leader, suggesting that the Pope had entered "political waters." Johnson specifically took issue with the pontiff's March 29 address in St. Peter’s Square, where the Pope cited scripture to claim that Jesus "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war."

“It is a very well-settled matter of Christian theology,” Johnson said during a news conference. “There’s something called the ‘just war’ doctrine.”

The Speaker admitted he was “taken a little bit aback” by the Pope’s suggestion that the prayers of those engaged in conflict are rejected. During that March address, the Pope had referenced the Book of Isaiah, saying: “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.”