politics
April 19, 2026
Trump tests his luck with the religious right amid feud with pope and AI Jesus posts
Trump appears to have crossed a line with his Christian supporters. Will it come back to bite him in the midterms?
TL;DR
- Donald Trump's depiction of himself as Jesus Christ via an AI image and his spat with Pope Leo XIV may negatively affect the Republican party in the midterm elections.
- Some Christian groups, including self-described Christian nationalists, have criticized the AI image as "blasphemous."
- Experts suggest that while white evangelicals' support for Trump is likely to continue, white Catholics are a more crucial demographic in competitive swing states.
- A loss of support among white Catholics, who are overrepresented in states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, could be detrimental to Republican candidates in the midterms.
- Trump's attacks on Pope Leo XIV have also drawn criticism, though some of his base have backed these attacks.
- The AI image controversy, for some, crossed a line because it was perceived as too blatant, despite Trump's past controversies.
- Some Christian leaders may have offered "performative" disapproval without actually withdrawing support.