Trump says Riley Gaines had no role in deletion of AI Jesus post

President Trump on Monday said he is “not a big fan” of conservative activist Riley Gaines after she criticized an AI-generated image he shared on Truth Social depicting him as a Jesus-like figure — and said her objections played no role in his decision to remove the post.

Ms. Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer, was among the Trump supporters who objected to the image, which the president shared on social media Sunday portraying himself as a Jesus-like figure. Mr. Trump has since deleted the post. 

Responding to the backlash, Ms. Gaines wrote on X that she loves the president and will continue to support him and the America First agenda, but said the Truth Social post “missed the mark.” She added that she does “nothing for the approval of man” and that the purpose of life is to “glorify Him in all we do.”

Mr. Trump told CBS News that Ms. Gaines’ criticism had nothing to do with his decision to remove the post, saying he “didn’t listen to Riley Gaines” and that he’s “not a big fan of Riley, actually.” 

The president acknowledged posting the image himself, telling reporters he thought it depicted him as a doctor associated with the Red Cross.

“I did post it, and I thought it was me as the doctor and it had to do with Red Cross as a Red Cross worker there, which we support,” he said. He said he deleted the post because he “didn’t want to have anybody be confused.” 

The image was removed on the same day that the Religious Liberty Commission, a body Mr. Trump established to defend religious freedom, was scheduled to meet. 

The AI-generated image showed Mr. Trump dressed in a white robe and red shawl, pressing his hand to the forehead of a man in a hospital bed as light appeared to emanate from the point of contact. Bald eagles, fighter jets, the American flag and ghostly figures of service members appeared throughout the scene, with fireworks displayed over the Statue of Liberty and the Lincoln Memorial.

Ms. Gaines was not alone in her objections. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia called the image “more than blasphemy,” writing on X that it carried “the Antichrist spirit.” Conservative Gen Z commentator Brilyn Hollyhand called it “gross blasphemy,” saying in a video that comparing oneself to Jesus “undermines the very value that many of us hold dear.” 

Conservative podcaster Erick Erickson wrote on X that the media was focused on conservative podcasters breaking with Mr. Trump over Iran, but argued they “really should be paying attention to the Christian Trump supporters who have stood with him through Iran, who are waking up to his blasphemy.”

Not all allies broke with the president. Far-right activist Laura Loomer criticized the backlash, writing on X that people “crashing out over a meme need to chill out.”