Graham Defends Trump on AI Image Controversy

Franklin Graham, a prominent North Carolina evangelist and longtime supporter of President Donald Trump, defended the president on Thursday against criticism over an AI-generated image that some viewed as portraying Trump in a Christ-like manner. The image, shared on Trump's Truth Social platform late Sunday, showed him in white robes with a red sash, a glowing hand extended over a man in a hospital bed. Trump deleted the post the following day amid backlash from various quarters, including some of his supporters.

Trump told reporters he believed the image depicted him as a doctor associated with the Red Cross and had not intended any religious symbolism. In a social media statement Thursday, Graham expressed agreement with that account. "I do not believe President Trump would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ; that would certainly be inappropriate," Graham wrote. He described the illustration as lacking spiritual elements, such as halos, crosses or angels, and instead featuring American symbols like flags, soldiers, nurses, fighter planes, eagles and the Statue of Liberty. "I think this is a lot to do about nothing. There is so much ill-intended speculation," he added,...