(RNS) — A pair of social media posts published by President Donald Trump over the weekend have stirred backlash among religious Americans, including some of the president’s Catholic and evangelical supporters, who condemned his strident criticism of Pope Leo and an image he posted depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure.
The first post, which was published at around 9:00 p.m. ET Sunday evening (April 12), focused on Pope Leo, who has been critical of the Trump administration’s actions in the Iran war. In a lengthy statement, Trump declared the pontiff is “weak” on crime and nuclear weapons, and ultimately claimed Leo was only elevated to the papacy to counter the president.
“Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise,” Trump wrote. “He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
Less than an hour later, Trump posted an image to Truth Social that appeared to depict the president as a Christ figure healing a sick individual. Radiant light bloomed from the president’s hand and behind his frame, as four people looked on. Hovering in the clouds above Trump are five figures — one of which appeared to have wings and horns. A U.S. flag flapped in the wind nearb …
