Even some of Trump’s closest allies didn’t like this one.
President Donald Trump removed a controversial post from Truth Social late this week after facing criticism from several Republican lawmakers, including a senior Senate ally, highlighting rare public tension within GOP leadership.
The post, which appeared Thursday night, drew attention after it was shared more widely on social media. Some lawmakers said the imagery used in the post was offensive and inappropriate for a sitting president, prompting calls for its removal.
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only Black Republican currently serving in the U.S. Senate, was among the first to publicly respond. Scott urged the president to take down the post, saying it reflected poorly on the White House and distracted from key national issues.
His remarks quickly led to additional responses from Republican senators, several of whom rejected early attempts by the administration to downplay the situation.
Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker called the post unacceptable and said it should be removed immediately. Other lawmakers echoed similar concerns, warning that such controversies can undermine Republican priorities heading into a critical election cycle.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially described the post as a “meme” taken from a longer video that portrayed President Trump in a symbolic, pop-culture context. That explanation did little to slow the backlash.
Nebraska Sen. Pete Ricketts responded that regardless of intent, the post should have been reviewed more carefully and said the White House should address the issue directly rather than dismiss concerns.
Several hours later, the post was taken down. A Trump adviser later told Fox News Digital that the president did not personally view the content before it was shared.
Alabama Sen. Katie Britt said the post should never have been published and stressed that it did not represent the values of the country. Democrats also seized on the moment, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticizing the president and demanding an apology.
The incident is notable given Trump’s long-standing alliance with Sen. Scott. Scott briefly ran for president in the 2024 Republican primary before suspending his campaign and later became one of Trump’s closest allies in the Senate.
Scott currently serves as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is responsible for defending the GOP’s slim Senate majority and expanding it during the 2026 midterm elections.
He has rarely broken with Trump publicly and was reportedly considered as a possible vice-presidential candidate before Trump selected Ohio Sen. JD Vance. However, Scott has recently shown a willingness to voice disagreement with the administration on select issues.
Earlier this week, Scott publicly questioned the Justice Department’s handling of scrutiny involving Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. As chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, Scott said that while he believes Powell has failed in his leadership role, poor performance does not automatically amount to criminal behavior.
The episode highlights the ongoing challenge for Republican leaders as they balance loyalty to President Trump with maintaining discipline, message control, and focus on policy priorities ahead of upcoming elections.
