Trump Ally Defends President's Controversial 'AI Jesus' Post on CNN

Conservative influencer Emily Austin spends minutes defending Trump's deleted image before finally acknowledging it was 'wrong to post'.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:40pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty political office space, with a single framed portrait of a political figure on the wall, conveying a sense of solitude and contemplation.The controversy over Trump's 'AI Jesus' post highlights the delicate balance between political messaging and religious symbolism.Austin Today

Conservative influencer Emily Austin spent several minutes on a CNN panel defending President Donald Trump's controversial social media post depicting him as a 'healer of the nation' in an image resembling Jesus Christ. After initially claiming Trump did not create the doctored photo, Austin eventually conceded that it 'wasn't smart to post' and that 'it was wrong to post' the image, which Trump later deleted amid widespread criticism.

Why it matters

Trump's post sparked outrage and accusations of blasphemy, with critics arguing the image portrayed the former president as a messianic figure. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Trump's most ardent supporters and his detractors, as well as the challenges of navigating religious and political imagery in the digital age.

The details

The original version of the image was posted months earlier by MAGA influencer Nick Adams, who described it as portraying Trump as a 'healer of the nation.' When pressed on the CNN panel, Austin initially defended the post, saying Trump did not 'intentionally' portray himself as Jesus. However, she eventually acknowledged that the image was problematic and that Trump was 'wrong to post' it.

  • The original image was posted by Nick Adams in February 2026.
  • Trump later shared the image on his social media platforms, leading to widespread criticism.
  • Trump ultimately deleted the post after the backlash.

The players

Emily Austin

A conservative influencer who appeared on the CNN panel to defend Trump's controversial post.

Nick Adams

A MAGA influencer who originally posted the image depicting Trump as a 'healer of the nation'.

Donald Trump

The former president who shared the doctored image on his social media platforms, sparking outrage.

Ana Navarro

A co-host of 'The View' who appeared on the CNN panel alongside Emily Austin.

Bakari Sellers

A Democrat and former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives who participated in the CNN panel discussion.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think Trump lied about the post, and I'm not here to defend every action that he makes.”

— Emily Austin, Conservative Influencer

“Oh, as a healer of the nation? That's what the guy who had created it said.”

— Emily Austin, Conservative Influencer

“No, on this particular issue, Donald Trump was wrong. He should not have done it. It's not about him taking it down. Be able to have the audacity and courage to call him out and say it was wrong.”

— Bakari Sellers, Former South Carolina State Representative

“It wasn't smart to post.”

— Emily Austin, Conservative Influencer

“He took it — it was wrong to post. He took it down.”

— Emily Austin, Conservative Influencer

What’s next

The incident is likely to continue sparking debate and discussion around the appropriate use of religious imagery in political discourse, as well as the challenges of navigating social media controversies.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between Trump's most ardent supporters and his critics, as well as the delicate balance between political messaging and religious symbolism. It underscores the need for public figures to exercise caution when using potentially divisive imagery, even if unintentionally.