Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) has likened President Trump to a "second coming" following backlash over his feud with Pope Leo XIV and his administration's use of religious language during discussions about the Iran conflict. This comes after Trump faced scrutiny for posting a controversial, AI-generated image on Truth Social depicting him confronting the pontiff over criticism of the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation in Iran. The president later removed the image, claiming it was misinterpreted and had to do with the Red Cross. The controversy has raised concerns among some GOP donors, strategists, and lawmakers who argue it could distract from domestic priorities ahead of the midterms.