‘He was born a very special baby’: GOP congressman mocked for cultlike Trump praise
"It’s the kind of praise that makes dictators blush and comedians unemployed."
Mason Reed 
Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Tex., is facing intense backlash and accusations of “cult behavior” after offering a uniquely extravagant assessment of President Donald Trump. During a Thursday press session, the retiring congressman suggested that the former president’s arrival was essentially predestined.
A Special Arrival
“Donald Trump is the best thing to happen in this country in a hundred years. He was born a very special baby. I bet you the doctors said, ‘I can tell this is a very special baby,’” Nehls told reporters.
The comments surfaced while Nehls was advocating for government-funded counseling for those suffering from what he dubbed “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” The congressman suggested that such aid should be directed toward the “nutjobs” who view Trump as a negative figure.
Critics and Comedians Weigh In
The remarks drew immediate scorn from the president's critics, who were quick to point out the extreme nature of the rhetoric. Tom Nichols, a retired U.S. Navy College professor and writer, tweeted, “Even in Pyongyang they must be looking at this and wondering WTF,” comparing the praise to the propaganda styles of North Korea.
Social media users piled on, with the account @liberallyLV noting that even Kim Jong Un might find the sentiment a bit over the top. Kyle Sweetser, a former Alabama Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, labeled the display as "cult behavior" in a post on X.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., used humor to characterize the moment, comparing the political scene to the “Dear Baby Jesus” scene from the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. “Congress is literally Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” Moskowitz tweeted.
Others remarked that the devotion had reached a surreal level of intensity. “At this point we’re one step away from hearing that the Wise Men followed a star straight to Mar-a-Lago,” one user observed. “This isn’t political support anymore. It’s the kind of praise that makes dictators blush and comedians unemployed.”
