Texas Congressman Troy Nehls Hails Trump as 'Almost the Second Coming' in CNN Exchange
Republican Congressman Troy Nehls sparked controversy on Thursday by declaring former President Donald Trump to be "almost the second coming" of Jesus Christ during an interview with CNN reporter Manu Raju on Capitol Hill. The 58-year-old representative from Texas's 22nd congressional district made the extraordinary comparison while defending Trump's recent posting of a now-deleted AI-generated image that appeared to depict the former president as a Christ-like figure.
Defending Controversial AI Image
When questioned about Trump sharing the artificial intelligence image that showed him in religious robes healing the sick, Nehls dismissed concerns as taken out of context. "Come on, I think that's all been taken out of context," Nehls asserted during the exchange with CNN's Manu Raju. When Raju challenged this perspective, Nehls doubled down with his remarkable religious comparison.
"I do. I believe that Donald Trump is better than sliced bread. I think he's almost the second coming in my humble opinion. I think he's done a fantastic job, he's got a very difficult job," Nehls elaborated during the Capitol Hill interview. The Texas congressman, who was first elected in 2021, has established himself as one of Trump's most vocal defenders in Congress.
Ongoing Feud with Papal Authority
Nehls also weighed in on the escalating tensions between Trump and Pope Leo XIV, stating that the pontiff "needs to stay out of the political arena." This comment followed Pope Leo XIV's criticism of Trump's handling of the Iran conflict, where the president had warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran failed to meet his deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The papal condemnation prompted a fierce response from Trump, who posted a lengthy statement on Truth Social on April 12 accusing Pope Leo of being "WEAK on crime" and "terrible for Foreign Policy." Trump further declared, "I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon," and criticized the pontiff for commenting on his presidential actions.
AI Image Controversy and Aftermath
The following day, Trump escalated the situation by posting an AI-generated image showing himself in red-and-white robes appearing to heal the sick, reminiscent of biblical accounts of Jesus's miracles. The image was quickly deleted after drawing criticism from Catholic communities and even some of Trump's own religious supporters.
When questioned about the controversial post, Trump claimed the image was meant to depict him "as a doctor" rather than as a religious figure. "It's supposed to be me as a doctor making people better and I do make people better," Trump explained, blaming what he called the "fake news" media for creating a narrative that he was portraying himself as Jesus-like.
Papal Response and Diplomatic Context
Pope Leo XIV remained steadfast in his anti-war position despite the criticism from Trump and his supporters. "I don't want to get into a debate with him," the pope told reporters during a flight to Algiers on Monday. "I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems."
The pontiff reinforced this stance with a social media post on Thursday morning, though he refrained from mentioning Trump by name. "Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth," he wrote on the platform X.
Broader Political Context
Nehls's comments come amid ongoing political tensions and fragile diplomatic agreements in the Middle East. The United States, Israel, and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on April 8, though Iran has accused the U.S. Navy of violating the agreement by maintaining its blockade of Iranian ships through the Strait of Hormuz. A separate 10-day ceasefire took effect on Thursday to pause Israel's bombing campaign in Lebanon.
The Texas congressman has consistently demonstrated his loyalty to Trump through various public displays. During President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in March 2024, Nehls wore a shirt featuring Trump's Georgia mugshot. Additionally, just three days after Trump's inauguration, Nehls co-sponsored legislation that would rename Dulles Airport in Virginia as the "Donald J. Trump International Airport" if passed.
This latest incident highlights the deepening political and religious divisions surrounding Trump's candidacy and the ongoing debate about the appropriate boundaries between political leadership and religious symbolism in American public life.
