Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(170,545 posts)
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 07:09 AM Wednesday

'They're not getting what they voted for': Jesus meme lays bare GOP frustrations with Trump

Source: Politico

04/14/2026 07:30 PM EDT


President Donald Trump’s weekend tirade against the pope — capped off by an AI-generated depiction of the president as Jesus — was, for some of his supporters, just too much.

Their unusually severe backlash comes as many once-devout Trump supporters are having a crisis of faith. Upset over what they feel is a too timid deportation agenda, a sputtering economy and another war in the Middle East, many couldn’t stomach the affront the way they might have in the past.

The backlash cut across evangelical Protestants, traditional Catholics and the populist conservatives who form the backbone of Trump’s base — a sign of how little grace key supporters are willing to extend at a moment when frustrations are already running high. To some, the Jesus meme — which Trump later said was never meant to liken him to Jesus but was instead supposed to depict the president as a Red Cross worker — exhausted whatever goodwill remained.

“They’re not getting what they voted for to begin with. On top of that, whether he’s mocking their religion intentionally or not, he still is,” said Erick Erickson, a conservative radio host and an influential voice with evangelical voters central to the MAGA base. “I think we are looking not really at a MAGA crack-up per se, but a lot of the base becoming exasperated enough to start looking beyond Trump.”

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/14/trump-jesus-meme-pope-backlash-00872163

19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
'They're not getting what they voted for': Jesus meme lays bare GOP frustrations with Trump (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Wednesday OP
This is not a football game orangecrush Wednesday #1
"As long as we agree ... FakeNoose Wednesday #12
;-{) Jesus Goonch Wednesday #2
"Upset over what they feel is a too timid deportation agenda..." sop Wednesday #3
This. They are fascists who never want to pay taxes. Thus wars are bad. travelingthrulife Wednesday #14
It is what they voted for. They just didn't understand it well enough or think it through. IronLionZion Wednesday #4
OK lonely bird Wednesday #8
They're having a crisis of faith??? kerouac2 Wednesday #5
Trust me it'll only last for a second or two for them at most. cstanleytech Wednesday #9
I must read more of Steven Hassan's work EverHopeful Wednesday #6
Making those insane people into sane people? 3Hotdogs Wednesday #7
After winning a six billion dollar Powerball lottery jackpot on top of it. cstanleytech Wednesday #10
THIS is what it took? truthisfreedom Wednesday #11
"Too timid deportation agenda" travelingthrulife Wednesday #13
I know! Wtf?? OnionPatch Wednesday #18
These idiots want a roaring economy but millions less potential consumers... Justice matters. Wednesday #19
They're getting EXACTLY what they voted for. the_liberal_grandpa Wednesday #15
They got EXACTLY what they voted for Miguelito Loveless Wednesday #16
Wrong. They're getting exactly what they voted for. ananda Wednesday #17

orangecrush

(30,622 posts)
1. This is not a football game
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 07:21 AM
Wednesday

Where we root for "sides".

I welcome any former Trump supporter who comes to their senses.

We can disagree on many things, as long as we agree we want to live in a democracy.

FakeNoose

(41,905 posts)
12. "As long as we agree ...
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 09:20 AM
Wednesday

... that we'll continue upholding the Constitution as we promised to do under oath."

sop

(18,856 posts)
3. "Upset over what they feel is a too timid deportation agenda..."
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 07:44 AM
Wednesday

They want someone more cruelly efficient, who will finally round up all the people they hate and ship them off to concentration camps...an authoritarian leader who will make the trains run on time.

"They’re not getting what they voted for to begin with." These people haven't changed; they don't want a better Trump, they want someone much worse.

IronLionZion

(51,387 posts)
4. It is what they voted for. They just didn't understand it well enough or think it through.
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 07:47 AM
Wednesday

Liberals understood this and voted against it.

lonely bird

(2,969 posts)
8. OK
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 08:24 AM
Wednesday

If MAGAs leave the cult then fine. Welcome aboard.

That is irrelevant to the question of what they voted for.

kerouac2

(1,507 posts)
5. They're having a crisis of faith???
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 07:54 AM
Wednesday

They literally support a racist, murdering, child-raping convicted felon but this stupid ai image has them questioning their support of him? Fug 'em, they should go to h-e 🏒 🏒

EverHopeful

(697 posts)
6. I must read more of Steven Hassan's work
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 08:17 AM
Wednesday

He helps understanding how to engage with people who've been involved with cults and his work gives me hope that we can welcome these people back to reality.

truthisfreedom

(23,536 posts)
11. THIS is what it took?
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 09:17 AM
Wednesday

An AI image of Christ? His endless litany of crimes was simply overlooked?

Justice matters.

(9,885 posts)
19. These idiots want a roaring economy but millions less potential consumers...
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 01:03 PM
Wednesday

Methinks they don't know how to measure the consequences of their Fascist desires...

File their contradictions they get from watching Faux Noise.

Miguelito Loveless

(5,810 posts)
16. They got EXACTLY what they voted for
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 11:11 AM
Wednesday

Lies and all. He validated their hatred, which is what they wanted. They knew he lied, and didn't care. Now they care, and they can go sod off.. If the election were held tomorrow, they still would vote for him.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»'They're not getting what...