Reverend Franklin Graham Defends Trump Over Jesus Post.

Reverend Franklin Graham is defending Donald Trump following intense criticism over an AI-generated image shared on Truth Social. The controversy erupted after Trump posted an image that critics argued depicted him as Jesus Christ.

Addressing the backlash in a signed letter on Thursday, Graham dismissed the idea that the post was intended to be sacrilegative. "I do not believe President Trump would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ — that certainly would be inappropriate," Graham wrote. He noted that the post was "immediately removed" once concerns were raised. Trump himself addressed the matter the following day, stating, "I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor… only the fake news could come up with that one. It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better."

Graham argued that the imagery lacked any true religious iconography. "There were no spiritual references — no halo, there were no crosses, no angels," he wrote, noting the presence of flags, soldiers, nurses, and eagles instead. He concluded, "I think this is a lot to do about nothing." Graham also defended a separate image showing Jesus with a hand on Trump's shoulder, viewing it as a representation of divine guidance. "We all need that — we all need to be listening to Jesus," he said.

The reaction has been polarized. Within Trump's base, OutKick contributor Riley Gaines suggested "humility" would benefit the former president, while RedState writer Bonchie labeled the post "blasphemy." Influencer Brilyn Hollyhand added that "faith is not a prop." From the opposing side, Cenk Uygur also called the image "blasphemous," and NBC’s Richard Engel questioned whether the post was meant to be a joke.

The social media dispute follows a public disagreement between Trump and Pope Leo XIV. Trump has criticized the Pope as being "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy," while the Pope has stated he is "unafraid" of the Trump administration. Despite these tensions, Graham expressed hope for a future meeting where the Pope could "thank President Trump for his efforts to protect religious liberty."

The White House has not yet provided a comment on the situation.