Republican senators breathed a collective sigh of relief Monday after President Donald Trump deleted an AI-generated imagedepicting himself as Jesus Christ, but most refused to condemn his blistering social media attacks on Pope Leo XIV.
Trump posted the image Sunday, showing himself in robes appearing to heal a sick man, evoking classic artistic depictions of Jesus. The post drew immediate condemnation from Christian leaders and conservative commentators alike before Trump pulled it down Monday morning, telling reporters he "thought it was me as a doctor."
GOP senators weren't buying it, and were glad it was gone, NOTUS reported.
"There’s only one Jesus. So, you know, best to stick with that," Sen. Josh Hawley said.
Sen. John Curtis went further.
“I found it offensive. As a Christian myself, I was offended by it. I think any religion should be offended by it. I would have been equally offended if he had made fun of Muhammad or any other religious leader, and I’m glad he took it down, but I’m sorry he posted it," Curtis said.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis was more diplomatic, calling the image "ill-advised" after examining a printed copy.
But when it came to Trump's separate, sustained attack on Pope Leo, whom Trump decried as "WEAK on crime" and accused of catering to the "radical left," Republican senators went largely silent.
"I would leave the church alone," Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters.
Sen. Bernie Moreno went further in the other direction, defending Trump by blasting Leo as "turning the Catholic Church into a political platform."
Pope Leo had urged peace last week after Trump threatened to "destroy an entire civilization" in the Iran war.