A screenshot of a typed letter on Franklin Graham letterhead, dated April 15, 2026, addressed to "The President" at The White House. It is a defense of Trump regarding controversy over AI-generated images he had posted/reposted, one depicting him as a "doctor helping someone" (which critics reportedly saw as Jesus Christ imagery) and another showing Jesus whispering in his ear or with a hand on his shoulder. Graham argues there were no overtly religious symbols (no halo, crosses, angels) in the first image—just a flag, soldiers, a nurse, fighter planes, and eagles—and characterizes the backlash as "much ado about nothing" driven by opponents looking to make Trump look bad. He also praises Trump as pro-Christian and pro-life, and expresses hope Trump could meet Pope Leo. The letter is signed "Sincerely, your friend, Franklin Graham" with a handwritten signature.
Text in image: FRANKLIN GRAHAM
April 15, 2026
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylania Avenue, Northwest
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
I have been out of the country and just returned this afternoon. This is a statement I just released to the media addressing some of the issues you have been facing this week:
I do not believe President Trump would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ—that would certainly be inappropriate. I'm thankful the President has made it very clear that this was not at all what he thought the AI generated image was representing—he thought it was a doctor helping someone, and when he learned of the concerns, he immediately removed the post.
When I looked at the illustration, I didn't jump to the same conclusion as some. There were no spiritual references—no halo, there were no crosses, no angels. It was a flag, soldiers, a nurse, fighter planes, eagles, and I think this is a lot to do about nothing. There is so much ill-intended speculation. I think his enemies are always foaming at the mouth at a possible opportunity to make him look bad.
And the illustration from someone else he reposted on Truth Social today, I must say that I like the fact that this is a picture of Jesus whispering in his ear or at least His hand on his shoulder, guiding him. We all need that—we all need to be listening to Jesus. Again, I think there is an attempt to spin this into something that it isn't. Remember, President Trump didn't draw this, he didn't create it, he reposted it on his social media because he thought it was nice—I would have to agree.
I'm not a Catholic, I'm an evangelical, but I appreciate how President Trump has defended religious freedom for people of all faiths, including millions of evangelicals and Catholics in the U.S. and around the world. He is the most pro-Christian, pro-life president in my lifetime and he doesn't shy away from it. I would hope that the President and Pope Leo can meet at some point, and that the Pope would have the opportunity to thank the President for his efforts to protect religious liberty.
Sincerely, your friend,
[handwritten signature]
Franklin Graham
Described automatically. The words above are a machine's reading of the picture, not Trump's.
Post from Truth Social
What the image shows document
A screenshot of a typed letter on Franklin Graham letterhead, dated April 15, 2026, addressed to "The President" at The White House. It is a defense of Trump regarding controversy over AI-generated images he had posted/reposted, one depicting him as a "doctor helping someone" (which critics reportedly saw as Jesus Christ imagery) and another showing Jesus whispering in his ear or with a hand on his shoulder. Graham argues there were no overtly religious symbols (no halo, crosses, angels) in the first image—just a flag, soldiers, a nurse, fighter planes, and eagles—and characterizes the backlash as "much ado about nothing" driven by opponents looking to make Trump look bad. He also praises Trump as pro-Christian and pro-life, and expresses hope Trump could meet Pope Leo. The letter is signed "Sincerely, your friend, Franklin Graham" with a handwritten signature.
Text in image: FRANKLIN GRAHAM April 15, 2026 The President The White House 1600 Pennsylania Avenue, Northwest Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President, I have been out of the country and just returned this afternoon. This is a statement I just released to the media addressing some of the issues you have been facing this week: I do not believe President Trump would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ—that would certainly be inappropriate. I'm thankful the President has made it very clear that this was not at all what he thought the AI generated image was representing—he thought it was a doctor helping someone, and when he learned of the concerns, he immediately removed the post. When I looked at the illustration, I didn't jump to the same conclusion as some. There were no spiritual references—no halo, there were no crosses, no angels. It was a flag, soldiers, a nurse, fighter planes, eagles, and I think this is a lot to do about nothing. There is so much ill-intended speculation. I think his enemies are always foaming at the mouth at a possible opportunity to make him look bad. And the illustration from someone else he reposted on Truth Social today, I must say that I like the fact that this is a picture of Jesus whispering in his ear or at least His hand on his shoulder, guiding him. We all need that—we all need to be listening to Jesus. Again, I think there is an attempt to spin this into something that it isn't. Remember, President Trump didn't draw this, he didn't create it, he reposted it on his social media because he thought it was nice—I would have to agree. I'm not a Catholic, I'm an evangelical, but I appreciate how President Trump has defended religious freedom for people of all faiths, including millions of evangelicals and Catholics in the U.S. and around the world. He is the most pro-Christian, pro-life president in my lifetime and he doesn't shy away from it. I would hope that the President and Pope Leo can meet at some point, and that the Pope would have the opportunity to thank the President for his efforts to protect religious liberty. Sincerely, your friend, [handwritten signature] Franklin Graham
Described automatically. The words above are a machine's reading of the picture, not Trump's.