Former Trump Adviser Condemns AI-Generated 'Christ-Like' Image as 'Offensive' and Politically Damaging
David Urban, a former senior campaign adviser to President Donald Trump, has publicly denounced Trump's decision to share an artificial intelligence-generated image that depicts him as a Christ-like figure. In a recent appearance on CNN's "The Arena," Urban labeled the move as "bad politics" from a strategic standpoint and "offensive" from a personal perspective as a Catholic.
'Patently Offensive' to Catholic Sensibilities
Urban, who now serves as a senior political commentator for CNN, expressed his dismay during a discussion with host Kasie Hunt. He emphasized his background as a Catholic, Christian, and former altar boy, stating that the image was "patently offensive." While acknowledging that he does not agree with everything the pope says on political or policy matters, Urban insisted that Trump's action was simply poor political judgment.
"Politics is about addition, not subtraction," Urban explained. "We don't need to lose people. As Lulu Garcia-Navarro of The New York Times points out, the Catholic Church is growing by leaps and bounds, primarily among young people right now."
Alienating Young Voters and Criticizing the Pope
Urban highlighted that the Catholic Church has experienced a significant surge in new members, particularly among younger demographics. He argued that it was unwise for Trump to "go out of his way to alienate those young voters" by criticizing Pope Leo XIV, whom he described as "the first American pope ever," known for wearing a Chicago Cubs hat, being kind to children, and enjoying hot dogs. Notably, Pope Leo XIV is from Chicago but is a supporter of the White Sox, not the Cubs.
The pope has been advocating for peace following Trump's decision to launch a war in Iran, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 13 U.S. military service members and over 2,000 Iranians. Trump escalated tensions by posting on social media that Pope Leo is "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy."
Fundamental Role of the Pope and Political Repercussions
Urban further elaborated that a substantial portion of American Catholics align their votes with the pope's teachings, making it unsurprising that the pontiff condemned the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. He emphasized that promoting "peace, love, and understanding" is inherently fundamental to the pope's position.
"That's his job," Urban told Hunt. "That's his No. 1 job description. It's like, 'I'm the guy who's supposed to say: turn the other cheek.' That is his role in the world. You don't have to agree with him on everything, but that's his job. He's the most dogmatic person on the planet on those things."
Urban expressed frustration with Trump's decision to "take a poke" at the pope, questioning who advised the move or created the AI image. "I don't know who said, 'This is a good idea,' or who the person is that generated that AI and put it in front of him, but they should be fired. Terrible!" he exclaimed.
Background and Broader Criticism
Urban served as an adviser to Trump during all of his presidential campaigns. Since then, he has frequently criticized Trump's decisions and social media behavior, predicting last year that Trump would remain an influential figure in U.S. politics long after his current term ends.
Reflecting on recent events, Urban noted that what should have been a "great moment"—Trump's McDonald's delivery stunt earlier in the day—was overshadowed by the controversial AI post from the previous night. He lamented that Trump had inadvertently shifted the public conversation.
"We're talking about this, instead," Urban said. "We can't—he's stepping on his own message." This incident underscores ongoing tensions within Trump's political circle and highlights the broader implications of using AI-generated content in political messaging.
