Vice President JD Vance has weighed in on one of the most talked-about controversies surrounding President Donald Trump’s social media activity. The Catholic convert offered his take on the backlash that followed an AI-generated image of Trump posted and later deleted from Truth Social.
JD Vance reacts to Donald Trump’s Jesus photo
Vice President JD Vance has responded to President Donald Trump’s posting of an AI-generated image on Truth Social, per TIME. The image depicted Trump as a robed figure with light emanating from his hands. Vance downplayed the controversy surrounding the post, which Trump later deleted.
“I think the President was posting a joke,” Vance said Monday about the image that drew backlash from Christians and conservatives. He added that Trump “likes to mix it up on social media” and called that one of the “good things” about the President. Vance noted Trump took the image down because “a lot of people weren’t understanding his humor.”
Trump offered his own explanation when reporters approached him at the White House on Monday. “I did post it and I thought it was me as a doctor,” Trump said. He referenced a Red Cross connection and blamed the media for the backlash. “Only the fake news could come up with that one,” he added.
Several prominent conservatives publicly criticized the post despite their general support for the President. Republican Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio called the post “troubling.” He described it by saying, “this Truth Social post can only be described as madness.”
Former Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene suggested the image was blasphemous. “He posted this picture of himself as if he is replacing Jesus,” she said. “I completely denounce this and I’m praying against it.” Conservative activist Riley Gaines also weighed in, saying “a little humility” would serve Trump well. “God shall not be mocked,” Gaines insisted.
Trump dismissed Gaines’ criticism directly. “I didn’t listen to Riley Gaines. I’m not a big fan of Riley, actually,” he said. Gaines later said the post “missed the mark” but affirmed her continued support for the “America first agenda.”
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.
