DC Bishop Condemns Trump's AI Image Depicting Himself as Jesus

Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde calls the president's social media post 'alarming' for associating his administration with the teachings of Christ.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:34pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of a lone political figure standing in an empty government building hallway, the subject's face obscured in shadow while warm sunlight streams in from a window, creating a somber, contemplative mood.The bishop's criticism of the president's self-association with religious imagery reflects ongoing tensions between political and religious leaders.Washington Today

The Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C., Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, has strongly condemned a recent social media post by President Trump that featured an AI-generated image depicting the president as Jesus Christ. Budde called the image 'alarming' and said it is part of a pattern of the Trump administration 'associating the president and his administration with the teachings of Jesus and the will of God.'

Why it matters

Bishop Budde's criticism highlights ongoing concerns about the president's tendency to blur the lines between religion and politics, as well as the potential dangers of using AI technology to create misleading or manipulative imagery. The bishop's comments also come amid a broader debate about the appropriate role of religious leaders in challenging political figures.

The details

In an interview with CNN's Kasie Hunt, Budde said the AI image is 'one of many, many images, associations claiming of spiritual mantles and authority' by the Trump administration. She said the president is 'taking on not just the mantle of Jesus's teachings, he's identifying with Jesus in a particularly alarming way.' Budde also criticized the president's recent attacks on Pope Leo XIV, who has expressed concerns about the administration's policies on migrants and foreign affairs.

  • On Sunday, President Trump posted the AI image depicting himself as Jesus on his Truth Social platform.
  • On Monday, Trump said he thought the image showed him as a Red Cross worker, not the son of God.
  • On Tuesday, Bishop Budde condemned the image in an interview with CNN's Kasie Hunt.

The players

Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde

The Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C., who has been critical of the Trump administration's policies and rhetoric.

President Donald Trump

The former president who posted the AI-generated image of himself as Jesus on his social media platform.

Pope Leo XIV

The current Pope who has expressed concerns about the Trump administration's policies on migrants and foreign affairs, prompting attacks from the president.

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What they’re saying

“It's one of many, many images, associations claiming of spiritual mantles and authority, associating the president and his administration with the teachings of Jesus and the will of God.”

— Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C.

“And so, this is just one of many that have been consistent with the administration from the beginning. And when we get into greater fields of influence, either in this country and now on the world stage, they become all the more alarming, because it is so clearly associating the president and his administration with the assumed will of God and even the likeness of God.”

— Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C.

What’s next

The Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C. is expected to release a formal statement further condemning the president's actions and calling on him to refrain from using religious imagery for political purposes.

The takeaway

Bishop Budde's strong rebuke of President Trump's use of an AI-generated image depicting him as Jesus Christ highlights the ongoing concerns about the blurring of the lines between religion and politics, as well as the potential dangers of manipulative imagery created through emerging technologies. This incident underscores the need for greater scrutiny and accountability around the use of such tools, especially by those in positions of power.