President Donald Trump has publicly rebuked conservative activist Riley Gaines, signaling a rift with a prominent surrogate following a controversial social media post depicting the 79-year-old commander-in-chief as Jesus Christ.
The tension erupted after Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer and vocal advocate for the administration’s sports policies, criticized the AI-generated image on X (formerly Twitter). Gaines urged the President to seek “humility,” stating, “God shall not be mocked.”
In the wake of mounting criticism from his conservative base, President Trump deleted the post. He later claimed he had mistaken the depiction of Christ for a medical doctor.
During an interview with CBS’ Norah O’Donnell, Trump dismissed the influence of the activist’s critique. “I didn’t listen to Riley Gaines,” Trump said. “I’m not a big fan of Riley, actually.”
This marks a sharp rhetorical shift for the President. As recently as February 2025, Trump praised Gaines as a “tremendous athlete” and a “leader” during the signing of an executive order regarding transgender athletes in sports.
Despite the public dismissal, Gaines remains aligned with the President’s broader agenda. In a follow-up statement, she characterized the incident as a minor lapse in judgment by an “imperfect” leader.
“I love the President and I’m so grateful he’s in the Oval Office,” Gaines wrote, adding that she believed the Truth Social post simply “missed the mark.”
The friction with Gaines coincides with a deepening divide between the White House and global religious leadership. The controversial post followed an inflammatory 334-word critique by the President directed at Pope Leo XIV.
The Chicago-born Pontiff has repeatedly clashed with the administration over the ongoing Iran war and recent humanitarian pleas for peace.
- Trump’s Stance: The President defended his record, citing a “landslide” election and economic performance, while dismissing the Pope’s interference.
- The Vatican’s Response: Pope Leo XIV stated he has “no fear” of the administration and will continue to speak the “message of the Gospel.”
The administration’s recent “posting spree” reportedly followed a 60 Minutes segment featuring three American cardinals who were critical of the White House’s current foreign and domestic policies. As the 2026 political landscape shifts, the President’s standing with his religious constituency remains under intense investigative scrutiny.
