US President Donald Trump is attracting a torrent of outrage after posting a picture in which he apparently likened himself to Christ.
The picture - shared on social media network Truth Social - appeared to show Trump, as Jesus, healing a man, while surrounded by military and national symbols.
Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, an evangelical who was a staunch supporter of the President until last year, wrote on X: "It’s more than blasphemy. It’s an Antichrist spirit." This followed an earlier post in which she stated: "This comes after last week’s post of his evil tirade on Easter and then threatening to kill an entire civilization. I completely denounce this and I’m praying against it!"
Justin Peters, an evangelist, teacher, and author committed to expositional preaching, wrote: "Blasphemous? In the extreme. But you know who I blame for this more than Trump? Word-Faith/NAR preachers who have been surrounding him for years. Paula White compared Trump to Jesus just last week. Two of the most prominent SBC pastors, Robert Jeffress and Jack Graham, have given their full support of Paula White.
"Trump attended Las Vegas International Church some years ago and Pastor Denise had Trump come on stage and she said of him, 'What I hear the Lord say, "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased".' She not only compared Trump directly to the Son of God, but claimed God as the source of her information. Sheer blasphemy. Trump is no theologian. These Word-Faith/NAR charlatans and heretics claim to be. And shame on Robert Jeffress and Jack Graham for supporting them. In doing so, they participate in their sin."
In the UK, evangelist Glen Scrivener commented succinctly alongside a photo of the meme: "The original derangement."
And Daniel Johnson, Theology, Worship, & Music programme leader at London School of Theology, posted: "Trump has always hated the image of God. His whole campaign has been that the image of God is a thing to despise, demean, and destroy. The only reason he now likes it is when he can imagine himself as the image of God." His posted linked to a news clip of Trump mocking a disabled person.
Former General Synod member Mary Judkins posted: "That picture is blasphemy."
The Christian Emergency Alliance, which supports persecuted believers worldwide, said: "Blasphemy. We pray for repentance and the removal of this post."
Distinguished BBC journalist John Simpson stated: "I’ve long given up saying how hard it is to think of any previous US president who behaved like Donald Trump, but comparing himself to Jesus puts him on another level altogether."
Former Army Officer & Diplomat Henry Bolton OBE wrote: "Are you comfortable with these posts from Donald Trump? I personally find them concerning. This isn’t MAGA, this is something else altogether."
Later, Trump was quizzed about the picture by a news reporter, who asked: "Did you post that picture of yourself depicted as Jesus Christ?"
Trump responded by claiming: "It wasn't a depiction. I did post it and I thought it was me as a doctor. And had to do with red cross as a red cross worker, which we support and only the fake news could come up with that one... It's supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better, and I do make people better. I make people a lot better."
The post now appears to have been deleted.
