Franklin Graham Defends Donald Trump After Truth Social AI Jesus Image Backlash

Franklin Graham defended President Donald Trump after a now-deleted AI-generated image posted on Truth Social depicted Trump in a Jesus-like role, drawing backlash from Christians including some of the president’s supporters.

“The AI image President Donald Trump posted of himself as Jesusis a sobering reminder not of how much Trump is obsessed with himself, but of how white evangelicals serve a higher power than Trump, and what that higher power may be like”

Baptist News Global

Politico reports that Graham said he does not believe Trump “knowingly depicted himself as Jesus” and dismissed the criticism as “a lot to do about nothing,” pointing to what he said were no overt religious symbols in the illustration.

Baptist News Global

In Graham’s account, he said, “When I looked at the illustration, I didn’t jump to the same conclusion as some. There were no spiritual references — no halo, there were no crosses, no angels,” and he described the image as including “a flag, soldiers, a nurse, fighter planes, eagles, the Statue of Liberty.”

ChurchLeaders likewise quotes Graham saying, “I do not believe President Trump would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ—that would certainly be inappropriate,” and it adds that Graham said Trump clarified the image was meant to show him “as a doctor helping someone.”

The Independent similarly describes the image as showing Trump in a white robe and red sash with “a glowing outstretched hand placed on the forehead of a man in a hospital bed,” and it says Trump later told reporters it showed “me as a doctor.”

Multiple outlets also tie the controversy to Trump’s deletion of the post, with ChurchLeaders stating the post was removed Monday, April 13, after Christians decried it as blasphemous.

Newsweek adds that Graham told the outlet he was “glad” Trump did not mean to depict himself as Jesus and that Graham said Trump “has removed the post.”

Graham’s defense rested on his reading of Trump’s intent and the visual elements he said were present in the AI image.

Politico quotes Graham saying, “There were no spiritual references — no halo, there were no crosses, no angels,” and it says he argued the illustration instead showed “a flag, soldiers, a nurse, fighter planes, eagles, the Statue of Liberty.”

Christian Post

In ChurchLeaders, Graham adds that he believes Trump’s explanation that the image depicted him as a doctor rather than Jesus, saying, “I’m thankful the President has made it very clear that this was not at all what he thought the AI-generated image was representing—he thought it was a doctor helping someone, and when he learned of the concerns, he immediately removed the post.”

Christian Post similarly quotes Graham dismissing the uproar, saying, “When I looked at the illustration, I didn't jump to the same conclusion as some. There were no spiritual references — no halo, there were no crosses, no angels,” and it repeats his claim that “It was a flag, soldiers, a nurse, fighter planes, eagles, the Statue of Liberty.”

The Independent also reports Graham’s statement that he does not believe Trump “would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ — that would certainly be inappropriate,” and it includes Graham’s line that Trump “immediately removed the post.”

Newsweek frames Graham as a close Christian ally and says Graham told the outlet that Trump “later said it was meant to show him as a doctor.”

The Daily Beast adds that Graham’s defense came alongside Trump’s “bizarre explanation that he thought the image portrayed him as ‘a doctor.’”

Graham’s remarks triggered immediate criticism from other prominent conservative Christian voices who said he was excusing blasphemy.

“Franklin Graham said he does not believe President Donald Trump “would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ,” referring to an AI-generated image posted earlier this week that drew outrage from many Christians, including the president’s supporters”

ChurchLeaders

Politico reports that former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene dismissed Graham’s defense, saying he’s “making excuses” for Trump, and it quotes her as saying, “Franklin Graham of all people, who is frequently at the WH and with Trump, should be leading Trump to be a Christian, NOT telling other Christians that Trump did nothing wrong when he committed blasphemy.”

The National News Desk and National News Desk’s account of Greene’s response similarly quotes Greene saying, “Franklin Graham of all people, who is frequently at the WH and with Trump, should be leading Trump to be a Christian, NOT telling other Christians that Trump did nothing wrong when he committed blasphemy,” and it adds, “Trump knows what he is doing.”

The Daily Beast also quotes Greene’s criticism, describing her as saying Graham was “making excuses for Trump posting himself as Jesus is one of the worst things I’ve seen.”

Christian Post includes additional direct reactions, quoting worship leader Sean Feucht saying, “This should be deleted immediately,” and it quotes conservative activist Riley Gaines asking, “Why? Seriously, I cannot understand why he’d post this.”

Baptist News Global quotes other conservative figures, including Cam Higby saying, “Blasphemy from the Oval Office is not a funny troll,” and it quotes Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon saying, “Some saying he’s just trolling, and others saying it’s anti-Christian.”

The same Christian Post report also includes Doug Wilson’s reaction, quoting him as saying he was “very grateful to see how many conservative Christians immediately denounced the blasphemous Jesus/Trump image.”

The controversy over the first AI Jesus image unfolded alongside Trump’s posting of another Jesus-themed image and a continuing feud involving Pope Leo XIV.

The Daily Beast says Trump posted an additional image on Wednesday depicting him in front of a microphone with “Jesus’s arms draped around him and an American flag in the background,” and it quotes Trump writing, “The Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice!!!”

National News Desk

The Daily Beast also quotes Graham agreeing with that second image, writing on X: “I like the fact that this is a picture of Jesus whispering in his ear, or at least His hand on his shoulder, guiding him. We all need that—we all need to be listening to Jesus.”

Christian Post similarly quotes Graham saying, “I must say that I like the fact that this is a picture of Jesus whispering in his ear, or at least His hand on his shoulder, guiding him. We all need that — we all need to be listening to Jesus,” and it repeats Graham’s claim that “Again, I think there is an attempt to spin this into something that it isn’t.”

The Daily Beast connects the episode to tensions between the Trump administration and the Vatican, saying Trump has repeatedly attacked the American-born pope, calling him “weak on crime” and accusing him of catering to the “radical left,” while the pope responded that he has “no fear” of the Trump administration.

Newsweek adds that Graham’s comments came as Trump faced backlash from Christians in recent days over the image and over rhetoric toward the pope.

The Independent also reports that Graham’s statement referenced the pope, saying, “I would hope that the President and Pope Leo can meet at some point, and that the Pope would have the opportunity to thank the President for his efforts to protect religious liberty.”

Graham’s defense and the backlash around it appear to be part of a broader effort to keep religious allies aligned with Trump while also managing public disputes with Catholic leadership.

“One of President Donald Trump's closest Christian allies told Newsweek on Wednesday that he was glad the president did not mean to depict himself as Jesus, following a now-deleted post on social media”

Newsweek

Politico reports that Graham’s defense came “amid a rare wave of criticism from conservative Christian commentators,” and it notes that Graham wrote, “I do not believe President Trump would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ—that would certainly be inappropriate,” while also saying he was “thankful the President has made it very clear that this was not at all what he thought the AI-generated image was representing.”

Newsweek

ChurchLeaders adds that Graham said Trump “immediately removed the post” after learning of concerns, and it frames Graham’s position as a response to “some questions about President @realDonaldTrump‘s recent posts.”

Newsweek describes Graham as “president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association” and says Graham told the outlet he was glad Trump clarified his intent and removed the post.

Premier Christian News and The Independent both emphasize Graham’s call for engagement with Pope Leo XIV, with Premier Christian News quoting Graham saying, “I would hope that the President and Pope Leo can meet at some point, and that the Pope would have the opportunity to thank the President for his efforts to protect religious liberty for Catholics and people of all faiths.”

The Daily Beast adds that Graham suggested a meeting between the president and Pope Leo, and it quotes Graham saying, “I would hope that the President and Pope Leo can meet at some point, and that the Pope would have the opportunity to thank the President for his efforts to protect religious liberty for Catholics and people of all faiths.”

At the same time, critics like Greene continued to demand a different approach, with Politico quoting her saying Graham should be “leading Trump to be a Christian” rather than “telling other Christians that Trump did nothing wrong when he committed blasphemy.”