A fresh wave of online political drama has emerged after an exchange of AI-generated content between Iran and supporters of US President Donald Trump, further intensifying already strained US-Iran relations. What began as a controversial social media post by Donald Trump has now evolved into a broader digital confrontation.
The situation escalated after Donald Trump shared an AI-generated image on Truth Social, where he appeared in a Christ-like depiction. Trump was shown wearing robes, surrounded by divine light. The image included angelic or soldier-like figures beside him. Fighter jets and fireworks filled the background, along with the Statue of Liberty. The post faced strong backlash online and was later deleted. The image quickly sparked debate due to its religious symbolism and political undertones.
The dispute widened amid ongoing tensions between Trump and Pope Leo XIV over US-Iran policy. Trump and Pope Leo XIV have exchanged contrasting public statements on Iran. The Pope has repeatedly called for peace and spoken against war escalation. Trump, however, defended his stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and criticised the Pope’s position. He also made personal remarks about the Pope’s leadership and policy views. Despite criticism, neither side has softened their position.
Iran responded strongly both politically and symbolically through official statements on social media platform X. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticised the AI-generated image shared by Donald Trump, calling it offensive and unacceptable. He also stated that Iran supports Pope Leo XIV’s stance on peace. Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf praised the Pope for his condemnation of war crimes. The Pope, in turn, reiterated that he remains unafraid of speaking out against political pressure.
Iran’s AI video retaliation
In response to Donald Trump’s AI-generated image, Iranian-linked digital channels released a counter AI video. The clip shows a dramatic confrontation between a Jesus-like figure and a Trump-inspired character, where the latter is attacked and thrown into a pit of lava. A voiceover in the video declares, “Your reckoning has come.” The video quickly went viral across social media platforms.
The online exchange also included earlier meme-based provocations. Iranian accounts mocked Trump by referencing Jeffrey Epstein in relation to previous posts. Earlier satire also linked Trump’s comments about the “Strait of Trump” to “Epstein Island”. Pro-Iran digital groups have circulated AI-generated meme videos tying Trump to Epstein narratives.