\n
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n
Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead more<\/span><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nD<\/span>onald Trump\u2019s \u201cnow-deleted \u201cJesus\u201d photo, in which he is depicted as a Christ-like figure glowing with divine light as he lays a healing hand on a sick man’s head, has been widely condemned as blasphemous, terrifying (if he considers himself the one true saviour) \u2013 and utterly inappropriate. <\/p>\nTrump posted the image to his Truth Social account on Monday after criticising Pope Leo XIV, who has been vocal in his condemnation of the US and Israeli military operation in Iran, for being \u201cweak on crime\u201d. Outrage quickly followed, with figures across the political spectrum \u2013 from far-right Christians to liberal lawmakers \u2013 expressing their offence to the comparison. Former Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene decried the post and said she was \u201cpraying against it\u201d while Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders described it as \u201cderanged\u201d and \u201decomaniacal behaviour\u201d.<\/p>\n
But as the days of controversy have tumbled by, people have been looking a little closer at what they say is a demonic detail \u2013 a horned, winged creature hovering above Trump in the celestial skies. X users have zoomed in on a \u201cdisturbing\u201d shadowy creature, which they say resembles a demon \u201crunning away\u201d.<\/p>\n
One person asked: \u201cWhat the heck is that creature in the middle?\u201d Another said, \u201cI had Grok enhance it, looks like a demon walking away.\u201d Another social media user speculated: \u201cThat\u2019s Sauron the Dark Lord,\u201d in reference to the antagonist from The Lord of the Rings<\/em>.<\/p>\nAfter the image sparked fury, Trump has desperately tried to brush over any idea that he was casting himself as a modern-day Jesus, telling reporters he thought it was \u201cme as a doctor\u201d.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/div>
Trump has denied that the image he posted represents him as Jesus, but conspiracy theorists are transfixed by the image floating over him (@realDonaldTrump\/Truth Social)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\u201cIt\u2019s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better. And I do make people better. I make people a lot better,\u201d he told reporters after the image had been taken down. He later claimed that he deleted the photo because he \u201cdidn’t want to have anybody be confused. People were confused\u201d.<\/p>\n
He has since shared an AI-generated image of Jesus hugging him.The image, originally posted on X by a Trump supporter, was reshared by the president on his Truth Social platform Wednesday with the message: \u201cThe Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice!!! President DJT.\u201d<\/p>\n
The trouble is, we are still confused \u2013 and is it surprising? The first image Trump shared of himself as a Jesus-type figure was not even the original. The image actually initially appeared in early February, posted by Maga supporter and influencer Nick Adams. Although Trump\u2019s is almost an exact copy, the original had only American soldiers hovering like angels \u2013 which is why there is so much bluster over the mysterious horned creature, which appeared in the second version.<\/p>\n
While some online have commented that it might be a representation of Baphomet, a satanic goat-headed figure and a modern symbol of occultism and satanism, others are giving a more nuanced reading.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/div>
\u2018Saint Ignatius Being Received into Heaven\u2019 by Andrea Pozzo shares the same golden colour hues as Trump\u2019s image and is also packed with activity (Church Sant’Ignazio)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nLiz James, Professor of History of Art at Sussex University, in the UK, who describes the image as looking more like a \u201ctacky\u201d and \u201cmass-produced Catholic prayer card\u201d or reminiscent of a \u201cwar poster\u201d depicting heroes from battle, rather than a \u201cwork of art\u201d, gives a more nuanced view of the \u201cartwork\u201d and the \u201ccreature\u201d.<\/p>\n
Although the idea of heavens opening is very common in Catholic art, she says: \u201cIn Trump\u2019s image, the figure with \u2018horns\u2019 where you might usually expect to be angels in other religious art, is in fact, more likely to represent the spikes on the Statue of Liberty\u2019s crown, which is also featured in the righthand side of the image. \u201cShe goes on to explain that the seven spikes (or rays) on the Statue of Liberty\u2019s crown represent the seven continents and seven seas of the world, symbolising the light of freedom shining globally.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s easy to read into these sorts of images and see Satan in anything,\u201d she tells me. \u201cThe \u2018wings\u2019 at the back of the figure,\u201d she adds, \u201care either military standard flags or a winged superhero figure like Thor [who wears a winged helmet in Marvel Comics].\u201d She adds that to make assumptions it\u2019s Baphomet, \u201cis wishful thinking\u201d. \u201cIt\u2019s AI-slop of its worst kind \u2013 what is most interesting about it is what instructions were given to ChatGPT to produce it?\u201d <\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/div>
Giotto\u2019s famous work, \u2018The Last Judgement\u2019 features a horned goat creature known to represent Satan (Getty\/iStock)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nAnother prominent art historian working in the US, who wishes to remain anonymous, agrees. \u201cI\u2019d say these figures look like a group of superheroes and are more in the Hollywood backing band mode in support of JCT (Jesus Christ Trump) than in art history territory,\u201d he tells me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe eagles are very \u2018US\u2019.\u201d There are a few horned Satans in European art, he adds, such as in Giotto\u2019s famous The Last Judgement <\/em>in Padua, northern Italy \u2013 which may have similar-looking \u201chorned goat creatures\u201d \u2013 but, he adds, \u201cI don\u2019t think art is upfront in any of this imagery or thinking, if you can call it that.\u201d<\/p>\nHowever, the paranoia over the image has been escalating ever since Trump posted and deleted the image. Many Christians are reading it as though Trump is possessed by the \u201cantichrist\u201d, and others are mining the AI-slop for a deeper meaning than was ever intended.<\/p>\n\n
\nThe figure with horns, where you might usually expect to see angels in other religious art, is more likely to represent the spikes on the Statue of Liberty’s crown<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
Professor of History of Art at Sussex University<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
The fact that the president promised to wipe out Iranian civilisation, \u201cnever to be brought back again\u201d, unless a deal was reached, only adds to the confusion, with some seeing it as confirmation that Trump has been possessed by some kind of demon.<\/p>\n
Other conspiracy theorists have gone further \u2013 an institutional cover-up of Jeffrey Epstein as a blockbuster lie hiding the fact that the world is controlled by a global elite, including politicians, celebrities, and officials, who are Satan-worshipping paedophiles. <\/p>\n
Even if that is an extreme out-there view more associated with the QAnon-filled corners of the internet, approximately 11 per cent of Maga-identifying voters believe the president is part of a cover-up, according to a poll conducted by the Economist\/YouGov in February \u2013 and the \u201chorned, winged creature\u201d won\u2019t help build trust in Trump.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/div>
A different kind of god: The horned creature is reminiscent of Thor, or another superhero figure (Disney)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nOthers have said the sick man Trump is tending to in the image is Epstein himself. The Iranian Embassy in South Africa shared the same image on X earlier this week and wrote: \u201cIs it Epstein being cared for in the Healing Ministry of Trump?\u201d <\/p>\n
Interestingly, this wouldn\u2019t be the first time Trump has used the imagery of goats. A golden-horned goat statue covered in fake $100 bills featuring Trump’s face with the words \u201cIn Trump we trust\u201d was reportedly displayed at Trump’s private Mar-a-Lago club in Florida last year to fundraise for a project known as Project G.O.A.T, which stands for Global Offensive Against Trafficking.<\/p>\n
It prompted social media reactions referencing the biblical \u201cgolden calf\u201d story, found in Exodus 32, which warns against worshipping idols when the Israelites craft a golden idol to worship while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, much to God\u2019s fury. <\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/div>
The seven spikes (or rays) on the Statue of Liberty’s crown represent the seven continents and seven seas of the world, symbolizing the light of freedom shining globally (Getty\/iStock)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nOf course, the term GOAT is also a well-used abbreviation of \u201cgreatest of all time\u201d \u2013 and Trump referred to himself in a Truth Social post last month as the \u201cG.O.A.T.\u201d of American presidents.<\/p>\n
Of course, the truth is, the internet, as usual, is reading far too much into a joke image that has seriously backfired on Trump. There is way too much overthinking going on about something Trump did without much critical thinking at all. <\/p>\n
My daughter, Lola, 10, makes amazing ChatGPT posters all the time and could easily make a Trump religious image like this in seconds, no real skill needed. It\u2019s unlikely the person who first created the image put much energy into it, or that Trump has since instructed AI to add in a \u201chorned goat\u201d figure. <\/p>\n
Trump might have plenty of not-to-like qualities \u2013 such as insensitivity, narcissism and a messiah complex, but being the antichrist isn\u2019t one of them. Probably.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Donald Trump\u2019s \u201cnow-deleted \u201cJesus\u201d photo, in which he is depicted as a Christ-like figure glowing with divine light as he lays a healing hand on a sick man’s head, has been widely condemned as blasphemous, terrifying (if he considers himself the one true saviour) \u2013 and utterly inappropriate. Trump posted the image to his Truth Social account on Monday after criticising Pope Leo XIV, who has been vocal in his condemnation of the US and Israeli military operation in Iran, for being \u201cweak on crime\u201d. Outrage quickly followed, with figures across the political spectrum \u2013 from far-right Christians to liberal lawmakers \u2013 expressing their offence to the comparison. Former Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene decried the post and said she was \u201cpraying against it\u201d while Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders described it as \u201cderanged\u201d and \u201decomaniacal behaviour\u201d. But as the days of controversy have tumbled by, people have been looking a little closer at what they say is a demonic detail \u2013 a horned, winged creature hoveri…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14410,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14409"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14409\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}