From AI Jesus to Iran Threats: Trump Faces Backlash From His Own Supporters as Controversies Mount

A single social media post managed to unite conservatives and liberals in rare agreement — and not in the way the White House would have wanted. In a stretch of days marked by escalating rhetoric, a controversial AI-generated image, and fresh accusations against a departing congressman, the debate over President Trump's behavior has reached a new level of intensity across the political spectrum.

At the center of the storm was an AI-generated image Trump posted — and then deleted roughly 12 hours later — depicting himself as Jesus Christ with glowing hands, healing a patient, with a demonic figure in the background. The swift deletion was notable: Trump rarely removes his posts. What made the backlash unusual was who led it — not political opponents, but prominent conservative voices and Catholic leaders.

Isabel Brown, a Catholic podcaster with the Daily Wire and a Trump supporter, did not hold back. "This post is, frankly, disgusting and unacceptable, but also a profound misreading of the American people experiencing a true and beautiful revival of faith in Christ in the midst of our broken culture."

Riley Gaines, a conservative podcaster and anti-trans activist who has spoken at Trump rallies, expressed similar frustration. "I cannot understand why he'd post this…Two things are true…a little humility would serve him well and God shall not be mocked."

Conservative Protestant Christian writer Megan Basham was direct in her assessment: "He needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God."

Rev. James Martin, editor-at-large of the Catholic magazine America, told CNN: "I don't know too many doctors that have glowing hands. That's the most Jesus-looking picture I think I could imagine."

Trump's attempt to explain the post drew widespread skepticism. He offered an explanation: "I thought it was me as a doctor, and had to do with Red Cross, as a Red Cross worker, which we support. It's supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better. And I do make people better. I make people a lot better." The image showed Trump dressed in the red and white robes commonly associated with depictions of Christ.

Vice President JD Vance offered a different framing on Fox News with Bret Baier: "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."

The image followed close on the heels of a public spat between Trump and Pope Leo, whom Trump called "weak on crime" and "terrible on foreign policy." The newly elected first American-born pontiff responded that "I have no fear of the Trump administration." The Jesus image post reignited and extended a story that might otherwise have faded within a day.

Iran, Threats, and the Blockade

The religious controversy was not the only flashpoint. Trump drew sharp criticism last week when he warned, just ahead of a stated deadline for military action against Iran's energy facilities, that "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again." He ultimately extended the deadline by two weeks — not for the first time — and subsequently announced the U.S. would fire on any vessel challenging his blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply flows.

The Iran situation has sparked significant debate on Capitol Hill, with critics arguing Trump launched the military campaign without a clear exit strategy. The president has repeatedly said America has already won and can withdraw at any time, though that position falls short of his original stated goal of stopping Iran from enriching uranium for potential use in nuclear weapons. Some have called for Trump's removal over the Iran threats, though Democratic leaders have acknowledged such an effort is not realistic.

Fox News contributor Liz Peek offered a defense of the president's approach: "Trump knows exactly what he is doing," adding that "Trump will continue to use maximalist (and sometimes outrageous) military and diplomatic pressure in his campaign to rid the Middle East of Iran's near 50-year campaign of terror."

25th Amendment Talk Grows Louder

The accumulation of these events has given new energy to discussions about the 25th Amendment. Even former Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene has joined calls invoking the amendment. House Democrats have unveiled legislation to create a commission to assess the president's mental fitness, a move backed by House Democratic leaders. The measure faces no realistic path to passage, as it would require a majority Cabinet vote and a two-thirds majority in Congress. Republicans are expected to ignore it entirely.

A New York Times piece captured the broader debate: "President Trump's erratic behavior and extreme comments in recent days and weeks have turbocharged the crazy-like-a-fox-or-just-plain-crazy debate that has followed him on the national political stage for a decade. The White House rejected such assessments, saying that Mr. Trump is sharp and keeping his opponents on edge. But the president's eruptions have raised questions about America's leadership in a time of war."

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in February found that 61 percent of Americans believe Trump has grown more erratic with age, while 45 percent said they believe he remains mentally sharp and capable. The concerns have been voiced not only by Democrats, but by retired generals, former diplomats, and onetime media allies — all of whom Trump has dismissed as having "low IQs." Former White House lawyer Ty Cobb, who served during Trump's first term, has called the president "clearly insane."

Lawmakers have also put expulsion threats on the House agenda as Congress returns from recess, adding to an already high-stakes week in Washington. Separately, Melania Trump has been pushing back against alleged smears connected to the Jeffrey Epstein files and calling for victims to be allowed to testify.

Swalwell Exits, New Accuser Comes Forward

Rep. Eric Swalwell has resigned his House seat after 13 years in Congress, stepping down in the face of near-certain expulsion. He had previously dropped his campaign for California governor. The sexual misconduct allegations that prompted his departure have continued to grow.

A new accuser, Lonna Drewes, came forward at a Los Angeles news conference, alleging that Swalwell drugged and raped her. Drewes said she met Swalwell in 2018 while working as a fashion model and running a fashion software company in Beverly Hills. According to Drewes, the two met twice socially after Swalwell offered to help her with professional connections. On a third occasion, she said, "I believe he drugged my drink. I only had one glass of wine. We were supposed to go to a political event and he said he needed to get paperwork from his hotel room. When I arrived at his hotel room I was already incapacitated and couldn't move my arms or my body." She added: "He raped me and he choked me. And while he was choking me I lost consciousness and I thought I died."

Two other accusers, Ally Sammarco and Annika Albrecht, went on the record with CBS after Swalwell's resignation. Sammarco said: "He thought he was untouchable. He acted with total impunity. He never thought that the consequences of his actions would follow him."

Also on Tuesday, Democratic Rep. Tony Gonzales announced he would resign his House seat, also facing the near-certain prospect of expulsion. "There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all," he said.