Trump’s AI ‘Jesus’ blunder – Christian Today

Has the row over Donald Trump’s ‘Christ-like’ image been fuelled by misunderstanding and unrealistic expectations about his alleged Christian faith?

Jewish Chronicle and Times columnist Melanie Phillips thinks so. Writing in her Times column on April 14, she expressed the view that the AI-generated image, first posted on social media by a Trump supporter last February, was more likely “a little bit of pagan kitsch” relatively than a conscious impersonation of Christ.

She wrote: “Since his AI self was wearing indeterminate red and white robes and was surrounded by an American flag, the Statue of Liberty, eagles and jet fighters, this was more likely a little bit of pagan kitsch depicting Trump healing the world through the exercise of American power.”

This is definitely perceptive. A more theologically-aware President would have realised that the image, which he has now deleted after the furore from his evangelical supporters within the US, was certain to attract a comparison with Jesus Christ. But the chances are high that the thought never occurred to Trump for the explanation that Phillips stated. He was drawn to the image since it made him appear to be the embodiment of American benevolence.

Although it’s unattainable to be dogmatic about this, it could appear that Trump has not yet grasped the Christian message of salvation. US evangelist Franklin Graham clearly thinks so otherwise he wouldn’t bothered to jot down to Trump last yr urging him to just accept Jesus Christ as his Saviour.

Referring to a comment Trump made to reporters on Air Force One last October that he may not be heaven-bound, Graham wrote: “Maybe you responded in jest, but it surely is a very important issue to know for certain that your soul is secure and can spend eternity within the presence of God. The only One who can save us from Hell is Jesus Christ. You cannot save yourself; I am unable to save myself.”

Graham exhorted the President: “God requires us to show from our sins and, by faith, imagine in our heart that Jesus got here to earth, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and God raised Him to life on the third day. If you accept that by faith and invite Him to come back into your heart, you ARE heaven certain, I promise you.”

Graham closed his letter by promising prayer for Trump and quoting the promise of salvation within the Apostle Paul’s New Testament letter to the first Century Church in Rome: “If you confess together with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and imagine in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you might be saved” (Romans 10:9).

On Palm Sunday, Trump posted Graham’s letter to him on social media. But in the sunshine of his gaffe over the AI image this could almost definitely be interpreted as a gesture to his evangelical supporters relatively than an endorsement of the letter’s theological content.

It may be very possible that unrealistic expectations entertained by Trump’s evangelical supporters within the US about his Christian faith have fuelled their outrage over the AI image. Arguably, Phillips and Graham are more realistic concerning the extent of Trump’s faith.

Julian Mann, a former Church of England vicar, is an evangelical journalist based in Lancashire.