Trump faces backlash over social media posts, tensions with Pope Leo XIV persist

Donald Trump is facing criticism following a series of social media posts, including one he later deleted that depicted himself as Jesus, as a broader dispute with Pope Leo XIV continues.

According to CNN, the image, shared on Trump's Truth Social platform, drew backlash from several Republicans and conservative commentators, who described it as "anti-Christian". Among them, conservative activist Riley Gaines said: "I cannot understand why he'd post this. Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God shall not be mocked."

Trump later removed the post, in what observers described as a rare move. Explaining the decision, he said: "I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with Red Cross. It's supposed to be me as a doctor making people better. And I do make people better."

Vice President JD Vance offered a different explanation, calling the image a "joke". "I think the president was posting a joke and, of course, he took it down because he recognised that a lot of people weren't understanding his humour," he said, adding that the president likes "to mix it up on social media."

The episode comes amid an ongoing dispute between Trump and the Vatican. Trump has refused to apologise for earlier posts in which he described the Pope as "WEAK on Crime" and accused him of "catering to the Radical Left."

Addressing the dispute, Trump said: "Pope Leo said things that are wrong. We believe strongly in law and order, and he seemed to have a problem with that, so there's nothing to apologise for."

The tensions stem from remarks by Pope Leo XIV last year that were seen as critical of the administration's mass deportation policies, as well as its approach to rising military tensions with Iran, where the pontiff has called for peaceful resolutions.

Despite the escalating rhetoric, senior Catholic figures within the administration have not publicly intervened. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both of whom have previously met the Pope, have remained largely on the sidelines.

Vance has defended Trump's social media style, while Rubio has not taken public steps to mediate the dispute.

The controversy over the deleted image has further highlighted differences within the administration over how to respond to criticism, as well as the unusual nature of Trump's decision to remove the post. While the "war of words" between Trump and the Pope continues, the Vatican has not issued a direct response to the image itself.