President Trump explained Monday that he deleted an AI-generated image that appeared to depict him as Jesus Christ because of the “confusion” the social media post caused — and took a jab at conservative activist Riley Gaines.
“Normally I don’t like doing that,” Trump told CBS News, when asked why he deleted the Truth Social post, “but I didn’t want to have anybody be confused.”
“People were confused,” the president said.
Earlier Monday, Trump told reporters he thought the image of himself — clad in billowy white and red robes — placing one hand on the forehead of a man in a hospital bed with a heavenly light radiating from his other hand “was me as a doctor and it had to do with the Red Cross.”
Trump maintained Monday night that “most people thought” the same.
“You had the Red Cross right there, you had, you know, medical people surrounding me, and I was like the doctor, you know, as a little fun playing the doctor and making people better,” he told the outlet. “So that’s what it was viewed as.”
The president denied that criticism from conservative activist and his frequent supporter Riley Gaines played a factor in his decision to delete the post.
“I didn’t listen to Riley Gaines. I’m not a big fan of Riley, actually,” Trump said.
Gaines posted that she couldn’t understand why the president would make such a post.
“Is he looking for a response? Does he actually like this?” the former NCAA swimmer wrote on X, adding, “a little humility would serve him well” and “God shall not be mocked.”
After Trump’s interview with CBS News, Gaines indicated that she would continue to support the president and his agenda.
“The truth social post missed the mark. It’s now deleted. Amazing!” she wrote on X, adding, “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.”
