JD Vance says Trump's post of himself as Jesus was 'a joke'

After President Donald Trump faced backlash for sharing an image appearing to show himself as a Christ-like figure, Vice President JD Vance said the post was "a joke."

"I think the president was posting a joke and, of course, he took it down because he recognized that a lot of people weren’t understanding his humor in that case," Vance said in an April 13 interview on Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier."

The vice president also said he thinks Trump "likes to mix it up on social media."

"I actually think that’s one of the good things about this president—that he is not filtered. He doesn’t send everything through a communications professional. He actually reaches out directly to the people," he added.

Trump's controversial post and Vance's subsequent comments came amid a public clash with Pope Leo XIV over his criticism of the war in Iran. Trump blasted the pontiff on social media, calling him "weak on crime" and "terrible" for foreign policy.