President Trump opened up Monday about why he removed an AI-generated post from Truth Social that many interpreted as depicting him as Jesus Christ, citing the “confusion” it sparked — while also taking a pointed swipe at conservative activist Riley Gaines.
“Normally I don’t like doing that,” Trump told CBS News when asked about deleting the post, “but I didn’t want anybody to be confused.”
“People were confused,” the president emphasized.
Earlier in the day, Trump told reporters he initially believed the image — showing him in flowing white and red robes, one hand on the forehead of a man in a hospital bed with a glowing heavenly light from his other hand — was simply “me as a doctor and it had to do with the Red Cross.”
Trump Claims He Personally Posted the AI Jesus Photo but Thought It Showed Him as a Doctor and ‘Had to Do with Red Cross’
Trump insisted Monday evening that “most people thought” the same thing.
“You had the Red Cross right there, you had medical people surrounding me, and I was like the doctor, you know, as a little fun playing the doctor and making people better,” he explained. “So that’s what it was viewed as.”
The president pushed back against any suggestion that criticism from Riley Gaines, a longtime supporter, influenced his decision to take down the post.
“I didn’t listen to Riley Gaines. I’m not a big fan of Riley, actually,” Trump said bluntly.
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Gaines had earlier voiced her concerns on X, questioning why the president would share such an image. “Is he looking for a response? Does he actually like this?” the former NCAA swimmer wrote, adding that “a little humility would serve him well” and “God shall not be mocked.”
Trump firmly denied that Gaines’ comments had anything to do with the deletion.
Following Trump’s CBS interview, Gaines signaled she would keep backing the president and his agenda.
“The truth social post missed the mark. It’s now deleted. Amazing!” she posted on X. “I don’t get my feelings hurt easy and I know with the President it’s really not personal.
“I want to spend eternity in a real place called Heaven. I’d love for Trump to be there too. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. I’ll keep doing my part by speaking truth & doing my best to lead others to Christ.”