Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Read more
President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated image of Jesus hugging him, just days after receiving backlash for sharing a similar picture depicting himself as Jesus.
The image, originally posted on X by a Trump supporter, was reshared by the president on his Truth Social platform Wednesday. Along with the AI image, Trump wrote, “The Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice!!! President DJT.”
The post comes days after the president shared an AI image portraying himself as the Christian savior. The image, shared Sunday on Truth Social, shows Trump wrapped in robes and healing a sick man with beams of light coming out of his hands. Trump is seen surrounded by patriotic symbols, including a waving U.S. flag, the Statue of Liberty and eagles flying overhead.
Outrage quickly followed, with figures across the political spectrum — from far-right Christians to liberal lawmakers — expressing their offense to the comparison. Former Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene decried the post and said she was “praying against it” while Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders described it as “deranged” and ”ecomaniacal behavior.”
By Monday morning, the post had been deleted from Trump’s Truth Social feed. The president later defended the post while speaking to reporters outside the White House.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday shared an AI-generated image of Jesus hugging him, just days after receiving backlash for sharing a similar image online (@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social)
“I viewed that as a picture of me being a doctor,” he said. “You know, as a little fun playing the doctor and making people better. So that’s what it was viewed as. That’s what most people thought.”
The 79-year-old said he took the image down because he “didn’t want to have anybody be confused,” and blamed the “fake news” for causing the controversy.
Trump seemed to be unfazed by the backlash. On Wednesday, the same day he shared the second AI image, he claimed to be the sole force preventing the world from falling apart.
“If I weren’t president, the world would be torn to pieces,” he told ABC News’ Jonathan Karl.
Trump’s self-assured comments come as his administration struggles to negotiate a peace deal with Iran during a two-week ceasefire deal, which the president announced last week after threatening to obliterate “a whole civilization.”
Trump defended the AI image depicting him as Jesus Christ, telling reporters on Monday that he viewed the image as him ‘being a doctor’ (@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social)
He suggested in the interview that a deal could be imminent, despite the first rounds of talks failing this past weekend. The war, launched by the U.S. and Israel at the end of February, has wrapped up much of the Middle East in violence. More than 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, and millions across the region have been displaced. Thirteen U.S. service members have died, and hundreds have been wounded, the Pentagon has said.
“I think you’re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead,” Trump said. “I really do.”
The conflict has also sparked fears of global economic upheaval as Iran enforced blockades on the Strait of Hormuz, a key passageway that sees about 20 percent of the world’s oil pass through it. The disruption has caused oil prices to spike to over $100 a barrel this weekend. Gas prices are also up to over $4 a gallon in the U.S.
This is a breaking news story…
