Bill Pulte, President Trump’s 37-year-old Federal Housing Finance Agency chief, reportedly showed Trump the controversial AI-generated image depicting the president as Jesus Christ before it appeared on Truth Social. Two advisers confirmed Pulte discussed the image with Trump during a weekend meeting in South Florida, though details about how exactly he shared it remain unclear.
The Controversial Post and Quick Deletion
Trump posted the AI image to Truth Social on Sunday, showing himself in Christ-like robes with glowing hands apparently healing a sick person. The post sparked immediate backlash from supporters and critics alike. MAGA influencer Brilyn Hollyhand called it “gross blasphemy.” Trump deleted the post Monday, then claimed he thought it showed him as a doctor helping Red Cross patients. “Only the fake news could come up with that one,” he said about the Jesus comparison.
Pulte’s Pattern of Influence
The grandson of a major homebuilder founder, Pulte has stirred controversy throughout Trump’s second presidency. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly threatened to punch Pulte at a September MAGA dinner, using profane language about taking the confrontation outside. Pulte pushed the failed 50-year mortgage proposal and has actively worked to inflame Trump’s frustrations with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, pressuring Congress to investigate Powell for alleged political bias.
Second Image Doubles Down
Two days after deleting the original post, Trump shared another AI image Wednesday morning showing himself standing alongside Jesus Christ. He captioned it: “The Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice.” The move suggested Trump remains unbothered by criticism over mixing religious imagery with political messaging. One adviser who spoke with Trump about the picture told Axios that “everyone thought it was a joke” when Pulte first brought up the image.
Sources
Thedailybeast: Trump Stooge Who Fed Boss Crackpot AI Jesus Christ Meme Unmasked as Bill Pulte
