Poll: Trump Voters Overwhelmingly Reject His Jesus Post as Blasphemous, Study Finds

President Donald Trump’s social media post depicting himself as Jesus has faced overwhelming backlash, even from his own supporters, according to a new poll. The rare rejection of the former president’s religious messaging highlights growing discomfort with his cultural and political strategies.

Key Findings: Trump’s Jesus Post Rejected Across the Political Spectrum

• 87% of Americans reacted negatively to Trump’s post portraying himself as Jesus.
• 80% of 2024 Trump voters and 79% of Republicans opposed the imagery.
• 69% of Americans also disapproved of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon prayer invoking "violence of action."

How the Controversy Unfolded

Last month, Trump shared an AI-generated image showing him in white and red robes, with one hand on the forehead of a sick man and the other emanating light. The post was swiftly labeled "blasphemy" online and deleted from his account the following morning.

Trump later told reporters the image was meant to depict him as "a doctor" and had "to do with" the Red Cross, though no clear reference to the organization was visible.

Historical Context: Trump’s AI-Generated Religious Imagery Draws Condemnation

This is not the first time Trump’s AI-generated religious imagery has sparked outrage. After the death of Pope Francis, he shared a fake image of himself as the pope, drawing criticism even from traditionally supportive figures like Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

Cross-Partisan Rejection: A Rare Break in Tribal Politics

The backlash to Trump’s Jesus post transcended party lines, a rarity in modern polling where attitudes typically align strictly with political affiliations. This suggests that even his base is drawing a line at what they perceive as inappropriate or extreme religious imagery.

Broader Shifts in American Religion and Politics

The reaction comes amid broader changes in U.S. religion and politics. More Americans are identifying as religiously unaffiliated, and Pope Leo XIV—who has clashed with Trump—is viewed favorably by 41% of Americans, compared to 16% unfavorable. Additionally, 66% reacted positively to Leo’s call for Americans to work toward peace.

White House Response: Defending Trump’s Record on Christianity

"There has never been a greater president for Christian Americans than President Trump, and his strong record proves it ... On the other hand, Democrats shamelessly weaponized the full weight of the federal government against people of faith."

— Taylor Rogers, White House spokeswoman, in a statement to Axios

Evangelical Protestants and Trump’s Approval Ratings

Despite the widespread disapproval of the Jesus post, about 7 in 10 white evangelical Protestants still approved of Trump’s overall job performance. However, roughly 9 in 10 viewed the post negatively, indicating a potential vulnerability in his messaging.

Methodology: How the Poll Was Conducted

The Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos poll was conducted from April 24 to 28, 2026, among a nationally representative sample of 2,560 U.S. adults. The survey used Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel®, a probability-based online panel recruited through address-based sampling.