Late-Night Hosts and Public Figures React to Trump's Social Media and U.S.-Iran Developments

Recent commentary from late-night television hosts and public figures has centered on two distinct topics: former President Donald Trump's social media activity and reported developments in U.S.-Iran relations.

AI-Generated Image and Criticism of Pope Leo XIV

Over a recent weekend, former President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image on his Truth Social platform. Multiple sources described the image as depicting Trump in white robes, holding a glowing orb of light, and appearing to heal a sick person. The image was later deleted from the platform.

Statements from Donald Trump:
When asked about the post by CBS, Trump stated:

"I viewed that as a picture of me being a doctor. You had the Red Cross right there, you had medical people surrounding me. I was like the doctor, you know, as a little fun playing the doctor and making people better. So that's what it was viewed as. That's what most people thought."

Trump also stated he did not realize he was being depicted as Jesus.

The post was made during a period when Trump publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV. Trump described the Pope as "weak on crime" after the Pope delivered an Easter message calling for peace and commented on violence during the Iran War. On Truth Social, Trump called the Pope "weak" and a "loser."

Reactions from Public Figures:
The post drew reactions from various public figures and online commentators.

• Musician Kacey Musgraves created and shared an AI-generated image of Dolly Parton.
• Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin shared an image of Jesus with a caption suggesting it was time to put the phone down.
• MSNBC host Joy-Ann Reid reposted an AI-generated video depicting religious imagery and used the hashtags "#trumpisantichrist" and "#magaisevil."
• Musician Jack White posted a message questioning how Christian or Catholic supporters could reconcile the post and Trump's comments about the Pope with their faith.
• Comedian Jon Stewart criticized Trump's explanation of the image.

Late-Night Host Commentary:
Hosts Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Ronny Chieng addressed these events on their respective programs.

• Stephen Colbert, on The Late Show, played a C-SPAN clip of Trump discussing the topics. Colbert referenced a Wired report stating some supporters had questioned Trump's actions following the image post. He also noted an NBC poll indicating Pope Leo XIV has high approval ratings among U.S. public figures.
• Jimmy Kimmel, on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, discussed Trump's criticism of the Pope and the AI image. Kimmel stated that Trump's explanation about the image depicting a doctor was not credible.
• Ronny Chieng, on The Daily Show, discussed comments by Senator JD Vance. Vance, appearing on Fox News, stated Trump's image post was intended as "a joke" and was removed because "a lot of people weren't understanding his humor." Vance, a convert to Catholicism, also commented on Trump's criticism of the Pope, suggesting the Vatican should focus on matters of morality and the Catholic Church while the U.S. president focuses on American public policy.

Reported U.S.-Iran Peace Talks and Related Commentary

Several late-night hosts also commented on reported developments in U.S.-Iran relations.

Reported Breakdown of Talks:
Sources reported that peace talks between the United States and Iran, held in Islamabad, ended without an agreement. Chief U.S. negotiator JD Vance stated the talks had failed and praised Pakistan's role as host.

Statements and Late-Night Commentary:

• Stephen Colbert reported on the talks' reported failure and noted Trump was attending a UFC fight in Miami when the news emerged. Colbert referenced a subsequent social media post by Trump announcing that the U.S. Navy would begin a process of blockading ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Jimmy Kimmel, in a separate monologue, addressed a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Kimmel referenced a pattern in Trump's negotiating tactics, noting a reported two-week delay in action at Pakistan's request. He played clips of Trump previously indicating he would provide more information on subjects in two weeks. Kimmel also referenced past statements by Trump about potentially destroying Iranian power plants, noting that such actions could be considered war crimes under the Geneva Conventions. In a different monologue, Kimmel referenced past threats Trump had made against Iran that had not come to fruition.
• John Oliver, on Last Week Tonight, discussed Trump's response to the Pope's statements on Iran. Oliver noted Trump's claim that the Pope said "Iran can have a nuclear weapon," while a reporter stated the Pope had never said that.

Additional Context

• The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil passes.
• Trump has previously made various claims about the 2020 election and international affairs that have been questioned by fact-checkers.