“Blasphemy”: US Catholics Outraged as Trump Posts AI Image of Himself as Jesus, Calls Pope Leo “Weak”
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New York, United States — A bitter war of words between former President Donald Trump and Pope Leo has unsettled American Catholics, a crucial voting bloc, with many expressing outrage over what they describe as blasphemous conduct by the Republican leader.
The feud, which has escalated in recent weeks, has seen Trump dismiss the pontiff as “weak” and post an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Christ-like figure—a move that Catholic faithful have condemned as deeply offensive.
“Totally Ridiculous”: Catholics React
Outside a church in New York City on Friday, Jim Supp , an 88-year-old retired classics professor, did not mince words.
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“For an ignoramus like Trump to try to question the theological outlook of an ordained priest is totally ridiculous,” Supp told AFP .
He was particularly angered by Trump’s AI-generated post, which was later deleted.
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“There are certain things in life not to joke about,” Supp said.
For John O’Brian , a 68-year-old former advertising executive, sharing such an image was akin to “blasphemy for Christians.”
Pope Leo’s Response
Pope Leo, who was born in Chicago and is the first American pontiff in history, has not directly referenced Trump’s post but has warned of the dangers of artificial intelligence abuse in recent remarks.
The pope has also been vocal in his criticism of US foreign policy, particularly condemning Trump’s threat to attack Iranian civilization as “unacceptable.”
Trump retaliated by calling the pontiff “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy” —an unprecedented personal attack on a pope by a US leader.
“Don’t Mess With the Pope”
Traditionally, US presidents have been careful not to alienate Catholic voters by publicly criticising the pope. But Trump, who won the 2024 election with support from a majority of Catholic voters, has taken no such caution.
The public sparring marks a potential vulnerability for Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections —even among more conservative Catholics.
Anthony Clark , a 20-year-old policy fellow with an anti-abortion group, told AFP outside a Catholic basilica in Washington that he sees Trump as a “very good president” with good intentions.
“But I think that intentions aren’t everything, and I think he can be imprudent at times in what he says or in the way that he approaches especially controversial topics,” Clark added.
For Carolina Herrera , 22, Pope Leo’s defiance has earned him respect.
“I’m really glad that Pope Leo stood his ground when he said he’s not afraid of the administration,” she said in Washington.
Her message to Trump was simple: “You should not mess with the pope, no matter what, don’t mess with him.”
Mixed Reactions in Republican Heartland
In Houston, Texas—a Republican stronghold—some Catholic faithful expressed frustration with both leaders.
Ann , a woman in her 70s who declined to share her last name, said: “I don’t think either of them are acting the way they should be acting. I think [the pope] has been very harsh on America.”
She added: “Jesus had a personal message. He did not say presidents, dictators, premiers, kings, could not protect their people and their countries.”
Manuel , a 67-year-old Latino, said he simply hopes Trump and the pope will reconcile.
“Because right now, this is mainly about peace. We need peace in the Middle East,” he said.
Trump’s Religious Background
Trump himself is not known to be personally religious. The thrice-married real estate mogul and former television celebrity was raised Presbyterian and rarely attended religious services before entering politics.
However, since his first presidential campaign, he has embraced the Christian right , and conservative Christians have hailed him for appointing Supreme Court justices who helped end the nationwide right to abortion.
Political Implications
The feud with Pope Leo comes at a delicate time for Republicans, who are seeking to maintain their coalition of religious voters ahead of the midterm elections.
While Trump’s base remains loyal, backlash from observant Catholics—particularly in swing states with large Catholic populations like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin—could prove costly.
The pope’s American roots add another layer of complexity. As the first US-born pontiff, Leo enjoys a unique connection with American Catholics that previous popes did not.
What Next?
With the Middle East crisis continuing to escalate and both leaders showing no signs of backing down, the Trump-Pope Leo feud appears far from over.
For American Catholics caught in the middle, the conflict presents a painful choice between political loyalty and religious conviction.
AFP contributed to this report. Ejes Gist News will continue to monitor developments in US politics and religious affairs.
