A heated exchange on The View is drawing attention from Christians after co-host Joy Behar claimed that Jesus Christ never identified Himself as the Messiah—prompting immediate pushback from her fellow panelists.

The discussion unfolded as the hosts reacted to backlash surrounding a controversial AI-generated image shared by President Donald Trump, which many critics said portrayed him as a Christ-like figure performing a healing. The image, which Trump later deleted, sparked widespread debate among both political commentators and Christians.

During the segment, co-host Sara Haines referenced Scripture, citing warnings in the Gospels about deception. “In Matthew and Mark in the Bible, Jesus alerts his disciples to not be deceived by false prophets who will claim themselves to be the Christ, performing great signs and wonders,” Haines said. She added that the imagery in question felt “on-the-nose,” suggesting parallels to those biblical warnings.

Sunny Hostin echoed the concern, saying, “Some of his supporters have likened him to a savior-like figure,” and expressing hope that people would recognize what she described as a “false prophet.”

But the conversation took a sharper turn when Behar interjected with a theological claim that quickly drew correction.

“Jesus himself did not run around saying, ‘I’m the Messiah, I’m the Messiah!'” Behar said.

Haines immediately pushed back: “That’s exactly what Jesus said!”

Behar doubled down, replying, “No, he did not. Jesus was not narcissistic like this guy.”

Haines countered again, arguing that such a claim misunderstands the nature of Christ’s identity. “When you are the Messiah, it’s not narcissism to say it!” she said.

The exchange highlights a longstanding point of Christian belief. While Jesus did not always declare His identity in overt or repetitive terms, the New Testament records multiple instances in which He affirmed His divine role—both directly and through His teachings, miracles, and the fulfillment of prophecy. For many Christians, passages such as His interaction with the Samaritan woman in John 4, where He acknowledges being the Messiah, are central to understanding His mission.

The debate comes just days after Trump faced criticism for the now-deleted image. Responding to the backlash, Trump denied that the post was meant to depict him as Jesus, instead claiming it portrayed him “as a doctor.” The explanation was met with skepticism from critics across the political and religious spectrum.

As tensions rose on the panel, Whoopi Goldberg stepped in to move the conversation forward. “The Pope has God with him,” she said. “God will take care of this. God will take care of him.” She also appeared to address Trump directly, adding, “Nobody believes you were a doctor. Nobody.”

Goldberg emphasized that the Pope’s role is to encourage peace among world leaders—a point co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin connected to the teachings of Christ. Quoting from the Beatitudes, Griffin reminded viewers, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

For many Christian viewers, the moment served as more than just another political debate. It underscored the importance of understanding what Scripture actually says about Jesus—who He is, what He claimed, and why those truths remain central to the Christian faith today.