Kacey Musgraveshas inserted herself and fellow country musicianDolly Partoninto the discourse surrounding an AI-generated image of a Christ-like figure thatPresident Donald Trumpposted online to the outrage of religious conservatives.
Some Trump allies have criticized the president for sharing an image on his Truth Social account on April 12,depicting him laying his hand on the forehead of a sick man in bedwhile a light glows in Trump’s other hand and light shines around the sick man’s head.
Though the "Golden Hour" singer, 37, did not comment on the controversy, she shared an AI-generated image recreating the image with Musgraves as the sick man andDolly Partonas the Jesus-like figure. Similar to the image Trump shared, the American flag waves and the Statue of Liberty is seen in the background.
Trump later denied comparing himself to Jesus, arguing that the image was being misconstrued and that he was actually depicted as a doctor. The post has since been removed from his Truth Social page.
"I did post it and I thought it was me as a doctor," he told reporters during an April 13 White House event, adding: "It's supposed to be me as a doctor making people better, and I do make people better. I make people a lot better."
The controversial image was posted shortly after Trump wrotea long Truth Social messagecallingPope Leo XIV, who has been critical of theIran war, "Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons." The pope responded, saying he has "no fear of the Trump administration, or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel."
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Conservative activist Riley Gaines condemns AI image
Among the critics of the image Trump shared wasRiley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer and conservative activist who has campaigned for the exclusion of transgender women competing in women’s sports.
In an April 13X post,Gaines said she couldn’t understand why Trump would post the image, saying, "A little humility would serve him well," and "God shall not be mocked."
She later praised Trump for removing the post, adding, "Of course, I'll continue to support him and the America First agenda. At the end of the day, I do nothing for the approval of man. Our purpose on this earth is to glorify Him in all we do. The truth social post missed the mark. It's now deleted. Amazing!"
Brilyn Hollyhand, the former chair of the Republican National Committee’s Youth Advisory Council and a self-described “full time Christian” called the image a "gross blasphemy,"in an April 12 X post."Faith is not a prop. You don’t need to portray yourself as a savior when your record should speak for itself."
Contributing: Zac Anderson and Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Kacey Musgraves mocks Trump's AI Jesus image after religious backlash