Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday described President Donald Trump's provocative social media posts as a calculated communications approach, telling reporters it was 'all part of his personal strategy.'
'The president creates a montage and a mosaic,' Bessent told Nexstar's Washington bureau during a White House press briefing on 15 April. 'President Trump's one of the great communicators of my lifetime, maybe the greatest since Ronald Reagan. And he's won [the] election twice, so seems to work,'The Hillreported.
The comments came as the White House tried to steer attention toward Tax Day messaging, with Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler joining Bessent at the briefing. Trump's own posts buried the effort.
The day before, Trump had shared a post on Truth Social from the account @Dkelly4congress, known as 'Irish for Trump.' It featured anAI-generated image of Jesus placing his hand on the president's shoulder, with text reading: 'I was never a very religious man .. but doesn't it seem, with all these satanic, demonic, child sacrificing monsters being exposed ... that God might be playing his Trump card!'
Trump added: 'The Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice!!!'
Why? Seriously, I cannot understand why he'd post this. Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this?Either way, two things are true.1) a little humility would serve him well2) God shall not be mockedhttps://t.co/GViHqWeDEr
It was the second such image in three days. On 12 April, Orthodox Easter, Trump posted an AI-generated picture appearing to portray him in a white robe and red sash with a glowing orb in one hand and the other resting on a sick man's forehead. That image was a slightly altered version of one previously shared by right-wing influencer Nick Adams.
The backlash came from within his own base.Conservative activist Riley Gaines wrote on Xthat 'a little humility would serve him well' and 'God shall not be mocked.' Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer called it 'inappropriate and embarrassing.' Former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene accused Trump of posting 'this picture of himself as if he is replacing Jesus.'
Trump deleted the first image the following morningat the urging of House Speaker Mike Johnson,CNNwrote. At an unscheduled press conference on 13 April, he told reporters he thought it showed him as a doctor.
'I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor,' Trump said. 'It's supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better, and I do make people better.' He declined to apologise.
Source: International Business Times UK
