Trump gives extraordinary defense of ‘blasphemous’ Jesus image… while holding two McDonald’s bags outside the Oval Office

Donald Trump has defended his now-deleted post depicting himself as Jesus Christ, claiming he believed the AI-generated image depicted him as a doctor.

Trump deleted the post Monday morning after he faced blasphemous accusations from his own right-wing supporters. The president’s stunning defense came as he stood outside the Oval Office holding two bags of fresh McDonald’s fast food.

‘This was not a description. I posted this and thought it was me as a doctor. “This is about the Red Cross, as a Red Cross worker, and we support it, but fake news can expose it,” Trump told reporters. ‘As a doctor, I’m supposed to be the one who makes people better, and I make people better.’

The image, created by AI and posted on the Truth Social account, showed Trump clad in white with a red shawl, his hands glowing with divine light, healing a sick patient in a hospital bed as a soldier, a nurse and others looked on in awe.

It was released Sunday evening and sparked a furious backlash from Trump’s own base on Monday morning.

Former Trump ally and Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said the image was “more than blasphemous” and that “it is the spirit of the Antichrist.”

Conservative commentator Michael Knowles wrote: ‘I assume someone has already told him, but whatever the intent, it behooves the President both morally and politically to delete the picture.’

Right-wing influencer Riley Gaines said: ‘Why? Seriously, I can’t understand why you posted this. Is he looking for an answer? Is he really thinking this? In either case, two things are true. 1) a little humility will do him great good 2) God will not be mocked.’

Trump deleted a viral post comparing himself to Jesus Christ after some of his right-wing supporters faced blasphemous accusations

Trump makes shocking defense of incumbency while holding two bags of McDonald’s

“I’m supposed to be a doctor who makes people better, and I make people better,” Trump said.

Pope Leo trades barbs with President over Trump’s war with Iran

Trump, a Christian, has previously questioned his own salvation, saying: ‘I guess I’m not bound for heaven’ and ‘I’m not sure I can create heaven’.

70 hours ago, Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV, writing: ‘If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.’

At a press conference in the Oval Office on Monday, the President refused to apologize to the Pope.

The President’s posts run counter to the devout Catholic and Christian beliefs of his inner circle, especially Vice President J.D. Vance.

Bishop Robert Barron, who sits on the Trump administration’s Commission on Religious Liberty, said Trump’s attacks on the Pope were “completely inappropriate and disrespectful” and called for an apology from the President.

“I think the President owes the Pope an apology,” Barron wrote to X, adding that senior Catholics in the administration, including Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, should meet directly with Vatican officials rather than making vitriol on social media.

Barron, who was appointed to the commission by Trump in May along with Cardinal Timothy Dolan, said he remained “very grateful” for the administration’s assistance to people of faith, but said the rebuke from within Trump’s own religious apparatus was clear.

The self-published photo comparing himself to Jesus proved a bridge too far even for supporters who applauded his attacks on the Pope.

‘Trump’s first message was good. The Pope has a long documented political history. Follow-up posts? Conservative pundit Mike Cernovich wrote that no other religion will be tolerated.

OutKick host Jon Root wrote: ‘This is blasphemy.’

‘Trump’s portrayal of himself as Jesus Christ coming down from the clouds, healing the sick, and praying to him with people is reprehensible. “If only the White House Office of Faith had a qualified leader rather than a heretic, this wouldn’t have happened, or at least it would have been publicized,” he continued.

Vice President J.D. Vance is a strong Catholic and has written a book about his faith that will be published later this year.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is also a devout Christian; He is often seen wearing a cross at press conferences and posting about the church or scriptures on social media.

The White House did not immediately respond to comment.

The feud with the pope began after Leo criticized the US attack on Iran without directly naming Trump or Washington.

Trump responded with a barrage directed at the head of the Catholic Church.

“Pope Leo is weak on crime, terrible on foreign policy,” Trump said on social media Sunday, adding: “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s okay for Iran to have nuclear weapons.”

The Pope said he was ‘not afraid’ of the Trump administration and would continue to speak out against war with Iran.

“I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or speaking out loud about the message of the gospel; I believe that’s what I’m here for, I believe that’s what the Church is here to do,” he told reporters during his flight to Algeria.

‘I don’t want to get into an argument’ [Trump]’ he added.

‘Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone needs to stand up and say: There’s a better way to do this,” Leo said.