By Damian Paletta
Good morning. President Trump is a prolific user of social media, wielding his Truth Social account to champion supporters and saber-rattle against enemies. Often, he is intentionally provocative, such as last week when he suggested he could unleash the end of the Iranian "civilization."
But twice recently, the backlash to his posts from supporters has been so extreme, and so swift, that he has deleted the posts within hours. The first instance was in February when he posted and then deleted a video that depicted the Obamas as apes.
The second instance was Monday morning, when he deleted an image that appeared to make him seem Christ-like. A number of prominent Christians objected to the image, alleging it was blasphemous, among other things. (Trump later said he thought the photo made him look like a "doctor.")
Here's the broader context and why this is worth watching: This year, the coalition Trump assembled to sweep back into power in 2024 is showing signs of cracking. He has problems with the MAHA movement. He has problems with a number of "America First" influencers who are dismayed by his focus on things such as Venezuela and Iran. Now he is getting pushback from Christian conservatives, many of whom have been steadfast allies in part because of the way he has reoriented the Supreme Court. The attacks on Pope Leo XIV are only making the spotlight on this issue brighter.
Democrats certainly have plenty of their own problems. It's unclear what their coalition even amounts to at this point. Trump and Republicans have plenty of time to bring their band back together, so to speak. But each week, there seems to be a new crack.
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People and Policies I'm Watching
Iran war: Follow the Journal's live coverage as Saudi Arabia presses the U.S. to drop its Hormuz blockade amid fears Iran could persuade Houthi allies to close the Bab al-Mandeb, a Red Sea chokepoint crucial for remaining Saudi oil exports. Read the Journal's Q&A on the U.S. blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, as the operation enters it second day.
Israel-Lebanon talks: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is to host peace talks starting at 11 a.m. with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad as Israel battles Hezbollah for a strategic stronghold.
Congress: The House returns from a two-week recess. The agenda includes funding DHS and reauthorizing FISA, the foreign-surveillance law.
Epstein probe: Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are to hold a shadow field hearing in Palm Beach, Fla., as part of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, with survivors and witnesses in the case expected to testify.
Trump's Tuesday: Trump is to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson and the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time and with Teamsters chief Sean O'Brien at 3 p.m.; to conduct an interview with Fox host Maria Bartiromo at 4 p.m.; and to meet with David Perdue, U.S. ambassador to China, at 5:30 p.m.
What I'm Following
Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales said they planned to leave Congress in the wake of sexual-misconduct allegations. House leaders have been facing loud demands to hold votes to boot Swalwell, a California Democrat, and Gonzales, a Texas Republican, after the chamber returns Tuesday from its two-week Easter recess. While two additional members are potential targets for expulsion, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.), so far has pushed for a slower, deliberative approach to resolving discipline cases.
A White House study said DEI hurts productivity. It found that policies that encouraged hiring managers on the basis of race undercut industries that adopted them -- and the broader economy. Advocates say that DEI counters implicit bias holding back historically disadvantaged groups, helps companies better relate to their customers and unlocks hidden talent and that much of Corporate America took a cue from studies, notably from McKinsey, finding that companies with more gender and ethnic diversity outperformed financially.
Bernie Sanders is still trying to take over the Democratic Party. The progressive Vermont senator, who is 84 years old, has said he doesn't think he will run for president again. But as Democrats trip over themselves to come up with a cohesive strategy to win back congressional majorities and effectively take on Trump, Sanders has built a formidable political machine to spread progressive policies and support like-minded candidates, many of whom are young and new to politics.
What Else Is Happening
-- Trump is pitching the Navy's Hormuz blockade as an opportunity for
American oil-and-gas exporters, but the squeeze on supplies is a bad omen
for prices at the pump.
-- Los Angeles public schools reached a tentative last-minute deal with a
major employees' union to avoid a strike that had threatened to shut down
the country's second-largest school district starting Tuesday.
-- The suspect in a Molotov cocktail-style attack at OpenAI Chief Executive
Sam Altman's home was carrying an "Anti-AI" document that included a list
of AI CEOs.
-- A younger generation of the Castro family is moving into positions of
influence as Cuba confronts its deepest economic and political crisis
since the Soviet Union's collapse.
What I'm Reading
-- The Conciliator: Why Did Gretchen Whitmer Go Soft on Trump? (The
Atlantic)
-- Georgia Might Not Have a Legal Way to Count Votes After July 1. (Atlanta
Journal-Constitution)
-- Pope Leo Says He Has 'No Fear' of Trump Administration After Attack From
Trump. (National Catholic Reporter)
About Me
I'm Damian Paletta, The Wall Street Journal's Washington coverage chief. I've covered Washington for 22 years as a reporter and editor. I've covered the White House, Congress, national security, the federal budget, economics and multiple market meltdowns.
WSJ Politics brings you an expert guide to what's driving D.C., every weekday morning. Send your feedback to politics@wsj.com (if you're reading this in your inbox, you can just hit reply). This edition was curated and edited in collaboration with Joe Haberstroh and Michael Connolly. Got a tip for us? Here's how to submit.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 14, 2026 07:05 ET (11:05 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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