“If I Wasn’t in the White House, Leo Wouldn’t be in the Vatican”: Trump Sparks Outrage with Bizarre AI Image

Washington/Vatican City, April 13, 2026 — The ongoing tension between the current US administration and the Vatican reached a bizarre new high this week. The US President sparked widespread controversy by sharing an AI-generated image on his Truth Social platform that depicted himself in a Christ-like form, appearing to “heal” the sick.

The highly provocative post comes amid an escalating and unusually direct public feud between the US President and Pope Leo XIV.

A War of Words

The tension between the two global figures stems from deep divisions over immigration, US military interventions—particularly regarding Venezuela and the ongoing Iran conflict—and nuclear policy.

In recent public remarks, Pope Leo XIV strongly urged restraint and peace regarding the global conflicts. This seemingly drew the ire of the US President, who subsequently launched a scathing attack via a lengthy message on Truth Social.

In his post, the President described Pope Leo as being “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.” Furthermore, he accused the pontiff of actively aligning with the “Radical Left.”

Personal Swipes and Political Claims

The situation escalated beyond typical policy disagreements when the US President began questioning the legitimacy and circumstances of the Pope’s elevation to the papacy.

He claimed that Pope Leo’s rise was entirely politically motivated and directly linked to his own return to the US presidency. “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” the President wrote, making the bold assertion that the Pope “became Pope just because he is American.”

Taking a personal swipe at the pontiff’s family, the President added that he actually preferred the Pope’s brother, whom he characterized as a strong supporter of his own “MAGA” political movement.

A Rare Public Confrontation

The sharing of the AI-generated “Jesus” image shortly after these statements has amplified the controversy across social media and religious communities.

The Vatican has not yet issued any official response to the President’s latest remarks or the AI image. However, the exchange marks an exceptionally rare and direct public confrontation between a sitting US leader and the papacy, laying bare the profound global divisions over war, migration policy, and the intersection of religion and hardline politics.