Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said Wednesday that he is willing to accept President Trump's explanation for posting an AI-generated image depicting the president as a Jesus-like figure, telling NBC News he would 'take it at face value.'
The controversial image was posted on Truth Social late Sunday as Trump lashed out against Pope Leo XIV over his criticism of the conflict with Iran. The image showed Trump in a long robe, his hand on the forehead of a sick man with light radiating from his palms, surrounded by a nurse, soldier and American iconography. Trump later removed the post, claiming he thought it depicted him as a doctor for the Red Cross.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers and religious leaders condemned the post as inappropriate and potentially damaging to Trump's standing with Catholic voters. The image drew immediate criticism from Democrats who said it represented a concerning blend of political messaging and religious imagery.
While Tillis downplayed the political impact of the post, some Democrats noted that the controversy comes amid ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to appeal to religious voters. The post was also criticized by figures within conservative circles, including former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and activist Riley Gaines.
What the Right Is Saying
Tillis, a Catholic, said he was more concerned with Trump's rhetoric toward the pope than the AI-generated image itself. 'You don't engage the pope as a head of state, particularly the most powerful head of state in the world,' Tillis said during an exclusive interview with NBC News.
The Republican senator added that he believed Trump viewed the pope primarily as a political leader rather than the head of the Catholic Church. 'To say soft on crime or soft on the border, that's what you say to an opponent in the next election... but not to the pope of the Catholic Church,' Tillis said.
Tillis noted that Trump took down the post, calling it 'an acknowledgment that it was probably something that should have never been posted.' The senator said he was willing to accept Trump's explanation that he confused the image with a doctor.
What the Numbers Show
The AI-generated image was posted on Truth Social late Sunday and removed by Monday morning, according to White House reporting. The post drew criticism from at least one prominent Republican member of Congress — former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — along with activist Riley Gaines, who called it blasphemous.
Trump has not released data on any polling impact from the controversy. Tillis, who represents North Carolina, is up for reelection in 2026 and has been a reliable Trump ally in the Senate.
The Bottom Line
The AI Jesus image controversy highlights ongoing tensions between Trump's political messaging and religious communities. While Tillis and other Republicans have largely moved past the issue, the incident demonstrates the challenges of navigating political communication in the era of AI-generated imagery. What remains unresolved is whether the episode will have any measurable impact on Catholic voters, a demographic both parties have sought to court in recent election cycles.