Where Was the Outrage Over Obama Depictions as Jesus?

Democrats and the media suddenly care about blasphemy, but were silent on Obama portrayals.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 1:22pm

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A vibrant, abstract painting featuring a political figure repeated in overlapping, fractured geometric shapes in warm earth tones, conveying a sense of motion and energy.The selective outrage over religious imagery used to depict political figures reveals a troubling double standard.Chicago Today

The media and Democrats have expressed outrage over a recent image depicting President Trump as a Christ-like figure, but were largely silent when similar depictions of former President Obama circulated during his time in office. The article questions the selective outrage and points to examples of Obama being portrayed as a messianic or angelic figure by media outlets and artists.

Why it matters

This story highlights the perceived double standard in how the media and political figures respond to religious imagery and symbolism, depending on the political affiliation of the subject. It raises questions about the consistency and motivations behind the outrage over Trump's depiction compared to the lack of reaction to similar portrayals of Obama.

The details

The article cites several examples of Obama being depicted in a Christ-like or messianic manner, including magazine covers, artwork, and a sculpture displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago. In contrast, the media and Democrats have expressed strong condemnation over a recent image posted by Trump that appeared to show him as a Jesus-like figure. The article argues that the selective outrage reveals a political bias in how religious imagery is perceived and criticized.

  • In 2007, a sculpture depicting Obama as Jesus, titled 'Blessing', was displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago during his presidential campaign.
  • In 2026, Trump posted an image on Truth Social that appeared to show him as a Christ-like figure, sparking outrage from Democrats and the media.

The players

Barack Obama

The 44th President of the United States, who was the subject of numerous depictions portraying him in a messianic or angelic manner during his time in office.

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States, who recently posted an image on Truth Social that appeared to show him as a Christ-like figure, sparking outrage from Democrats and the media.

The New York Times

A major U.S. newspaper that reported on the controversy surrounding Trump's post and his explanation that he believed the image depicted him as a doctor, not as Jesus.

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What they’re saying

“When you see it, when you spend time with it, you understand that it's not a provocative work at all.”

— Bruce Jenkins, Dean of the Art Institute of Chicago's undergraduate program

The takeaway

This case highlights the perceived double standard in how the media and political figures respond to religious imagery and symbolism, depending on the political affiliation of the subject. It raises questions about the consistency and motivations behind the outrage over Trump's depiction compared to the lack of reaction to similar portrayals of Obama.