From Iran to the fake Jesus image, Trump is facing a growing backlash for his inflammatory rhetoric

is nothing if not impulsive – and theres often a method to his seeming madness.

At times that means going way over the line – consciously, deliberately – and at others its just rash.

Whether hes dealing with Iran, the Epstein files, mass deportation or the leader of the Catholic Church, the president busts through the usual guardrails of decency and compassion.

I know this is often intentional, because the president has acknowledged it to me. Ripping others may bring him negative publicity, but Trump doesnt mind that if it gets the pundits and the public chattering about the issue he wants driving the media agenda.

Trump posting a users AI , healing a patient with glowing hands – and adding a demon in the background – was such a fiasco that he deleted it 12 hours later, which he almost never does. It was striking to hear him blaming it on “fake news” – which certainly covered it – when it was Catholic leaders, along with prominent conservative hosts and podcasters, who led the chorus of condemnation.

Isabel Brown, a Catholic podcaster with the Daily Wire and a Trump supporter: “This post is, frankly, disgusting and unacceptable, but also a profound misreading of the American people experiencing a true and beautiful in the midst of our broken culture.” 

Riley Gaines, a conservative podcaster and anti-trans activist who has spoken at Trump rallies: “I cannot understand why hed post this…Two things are true…”a little humility would serve him well” and “God shall not be mocked.”

Megan Basham, a conservative Protestant Christian writer: “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 dont know too many doctors that have glowing hands. Thats the most Jesus-looking picture I think I could imagine.”  

The posting came shortly after Trump got into a rhetorical battle with Pope Leo, calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible on foreign policy.” The first American-born pontiff replied that “I have no fear of the Trump administration.”

But that was being covered as a straight he said/he said news story and probably would have faded after a day. By quickly following up with the fake image that so many found blasphemous, he created a furor that will dominate the news for days.

Nobody bought his attempt at 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. Its supposed to me as a doctor, making people better. And I do make people better. I make people a lot better.” Trump is pictured in the red and white robes commonly used to depict Christ.

told Foxs 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 werent understanding his humor in that case.”

Just a joke. Thats their default defense. Except it wasnt. 

Nearly a year ago, the president took heat for posting an image of himself dressed as the Pope.

In February, Trump was widely denounced as racist, for an image at the end of a minute-long video of Barack and as apes. He claimed to have missed that part and did not apologize.

Sometimes it would be better if he said nothing at all. After and his wife were brutally murdered in their home, Trump posted a message lambasting the famed director as having Trump Derangement Syndrome. 

On the war, the president took immense flak for saying a week ago Tuesday, his deadline for unleashing hell upon Irans energy facilities: ” tonight, never to be brought back again.” 

Of c