Late-night host Stephen Colbert criticized former President Donald Trump on his show for sharing an AI-generated image that depicted Trump as Jesus Christ. The segment, which aired in early April 2026, also referenced Trump's history of contentious remarks about religious figures, including Pope Francis.
Colbert highlighted the irony of Trump, who has frequently courted Christian voters, engaging in public disputes with the leader of the Catholic Church. The host questioned the political wisdom of "starting a beef with the pope," suggesting it could alienate a significant portion of the electorate.
The AI image in question, created by a Trump supporter, circulated online in late March 2026 and was shared by Trump on his social media platform. Fact-checkers and news outlets noted the image was digitally generated and not an authentic photograph.
This incident follows years of sporadic tension between Trump and Pope Francis, notably in 2016 when the pope questioned Trump's Christian faith regarding border wall policies, and Trump called the pope's comments "disgraceful." Colbert's monologue framed these actions as part of a pattern of behavior that mixes political messaging with provocative symbolism.
