¶ Overview
- In January 2026 Herrera received a cease-and-desist letter from President Trump’s Attorney after he published campaign materials using the Presidents’ image and likeness. Trump’s attorney even went as far as to say he would “use every lawful means to protect his supporters from attempts by Herrera and others to deceive them.”
- In 2024, Herrera made headlines after it resurfaced that he had mocked Barron Trump while he was still 17. In a video, Herrera joked with a fellow host who called Barron Trump “Slenderman” and in a mocking voice Herrera impersonated him and said “Daddy is coming, Daddy is angry”
¶ Herrera Previously Had A Troubled Relationship With Trump
¶ February 2026: President Trump’s Lawyer sent Herrera a CEASE-AND-DESIST letter after Herrera used Trump’s image in campaign materials
HEADLINE: "Trump Lawyer Sends Cease-And-Desist Letter To Brandon Herrera Over Use Of President's Image In Campaign Ad; The Letter Says Herrera's Mailer Depicting Him Next To The President ‘Is Inconsistent With President Trump's Unequivocal Endorsement’ Of Rep. Tony Gonzales In The GOP Primary For Texas' 23rd Congressional District." [Texas Tribune, 2/12/26]
Texas Tribune: “A Lawyer Representing President Donald Trump Last Month Sent A Cease-And-Desist Letter Instructing Brandon Herrera, A Republican Candidate In Texas' 23rd Congressional District, To Stop Using The President's Image And Likeness In Campaign Materials.” According to Texas Tribune, “A lawyer representing President Donald Trump last month sent a cease and desist letter instructing Brandon Herrera, a Republican candidate in Texas' 23rd Congressional District, to stop using the president's image and likeness in campaign materials. The letter, which was obtained by The Texas Tribune, was sent Jan. 27 to Herrera and his joint fundraising committee by Jesse FranklinMurdock, a California lawyer at the Dhillon Law Group, a firm which has often represented Trump in legal matters. FranklinMurdock, identifying himself as a representative of the president and Never Surrender, Inc., Trump's leadership PAC, accuses Herrera of sending a deceptive mailer with Trump's image on it.” [Texas Tribune, 2/12/26]
Trump’s Attorney Said He Would “Use Every Lawful Means To Protect His Supporters From Attempts By Herrera And Others To Deceive Them.” According to Texas Tribune, “The cease and desist letter says the mailer, entitled ‘Brandon Herrera's Town Hall Schedule’ contains images of Herrera and Trump against a mountainous backdrop in its left third. Franklin Murdock tells Herrera to cease misusing Trump's image and likeness immediately, and warns that continuing to do so could invite legal consequences. […] In a statement, Franklin Murdock said he would ‘use every lawful means to protect his supporters from attempts by Herrera and others to deceive them.’" [Texas Tribune, 2/12/26]
¶ December 2025: Trump Originally Endorsed Herrera’s Republican Opponent, Tony Gonzales
HEADLINE: "Trump Throws Support Behind Tony Gonzales In GOP Rematch Against Brandon Herrera" [San Antonio Express News, 12/19/25]
¶ 2024: Sources Close to trump denounced Herrera after he Mocked Trump’s 17-Year-old Son, Barron
¶ February 2024: Herrera Appeared On A Podcast With A Host Who Compared Barron Trump To Slenderman
2/10/24: Herrera Joined A Podcast Where His Co-Host Joked With Him And Said Barron Trump, Who Was 17 At The Time, Looked Like “Slenderman,” “Long Ventriloquist-Like Dummy,” And A “Cyrtid,” A Bigfoot Like Creature. According to Daily Beast, “Conservative YouTuber Brandon Herrera has already made it to a run-off primary against Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) by painting the congressman as insufficiently far-right. But it turns out Herrera may have a problem on his right when it comes to the most important metric of conservatism among Republicans today: support for Donald Trump. According to footage of Herrera’s Feb. 10 podcast, the GOP challenger can be seen saying he doesn’t believe Trump can win the general election and, more controversially, Herrera joins in with his co-hosts as they ridicule Barron Trump, the former president’s 17-year-old son who’s been off-limits for most politicians. One of the co-hosts refers to Barron as being a ‘long ventriloquist-like dummy,’ looking like ‘slenderman’ and being the new ‘cryptid’—a creature, like Bigfoot, that only questionably exists. Herrara jumps in and says Barron Trump is ‘like nine feet tall’ and that he is ‘starting to become a meme’ and makes a mocking voice imitating Barron. ‘Daddy is coming, Daddy is angry,’ Herrera says in an imitating voice.” [Daily Beast, 3/11/24]
¶ 2/10/24: Herrera Mocked And Imitated Barron Trump And Said, “Daddy Is Coming, Daddy Is Angry” In A Mocking Voice
2/10/24: Herrera Mocked And Imitated Barron Trump And Said, “Daddy Is Coming, Daddy Is Angry” In A Mocking Voice. According to Daily Beast, “Conservative YouTuber Brandon Herrera has already made it to a run-off primary against Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) by painting the congressman as insufficiently far-right. But it turns out Herrera may have a problem on his right when it comes to the most important metric of conservatism among Republicans today: support for Donald Trump. According to footage of Herrera’s Feb. 10 podcast, the GOP challenger can be seen saying he doesn’t believe Trump can win the general election and, more controversially, Herrera joins in with his co-hosts as they ridicule Barron Trump, the former president’s 17-year-old son who’s been off-limits for most politicians. One of the co-hosts refers to Barron as being a ‘long ventriloquist-like dummy,’ looking like ‘slenderman’ and being the new ‘cryptid’—a creature, like Bigfoot, that only questionably exists. Herrara jumps in and says Barron Trump is ‘like nine feet tall’ and that he is ‘starting to become a meme’ and makes a mocking voice imitating Barron. ‘Daddy is coming, Daddy is angry,’ Herrera says in an imitating voice.” [Daily Beast, 3/11/24]
¶ Barron Trump Was 17 When Herrera Mocked Him
Herrera Ridiculed Barron Trump, Who Was 17-Years Old At The Time. According to Daily Beast, “According to footage of Herrera’s Feb. 10 podcast, the GOP challenger can be seen saying he doesn’t believe Trump can win the general election and, more controversially, Herrera joins in with his co-hosts as they ridicule Barron Trump, the former president’s 17-year-old son who’s been off-limits for most politicians.” [Daily Beast, 3/11/24]
¶ Sources Close To Trump Denounced Herrera’s Comments About Barron Trump And One Called His Comments “Disgusting Behavior”
When Asked About Herrera’s Comments, A Source Close To Trump Said “Not Only Did He Mock President Trump’s Teenage Son, Which Is Totally Uncalled For And Disgusting Behavior, He Said Trump Cannot Win The General. This Will Not Go Unnoticed.” According to Daily Beast, “But unfortunately for Herrera, support for Trump far outweighs gun policy as the issue most important to Republicans—and Trumpworld has already noticed Herrera’s questionable comments. ‘If this shithead actually said these vile things, he has no place in the party,’ a source close to Trump said. Another Trumpworld source had the same sentiment about the statement’s made by Herrera and that these statements will not be overlooked by the party’s presidential nominee. ‘Brandon Herrera would be a disaster for Republicans,’ one Trumpworld source told The Daily Beast. ‘Not only did he mock President Trump’s teenage son, which is totally uncalled for and disgusting behavior, he said Trump cannot win the general. This will not go unnoticed.’” [Daily Beast, 3/11/24]
National Republican Operative: “Brandon Herrera Is Going To Have A Very Bad Time Over The Next Couple Months If What I’ve Heard Is True.” According to Daily Beast, “One prominent GOP operative also told The Daily Beast that Herrera’s comments were a significant issue and will continue to be as the campaign goes forward. ‘I’ve heard that Brandon Herrera has a problem with keeping his mouth shut and has a problem with saying stupid stuff, and this is just the tip of the iceberg,’ one national Republican operative told The Daily Beast. ‘Brandon Herrera is going to have a very bad time over the next couple months if what I’ve heard is true.’” [Daily Beast, 3/11/24]
¶ March 2024: Herrera Refused To Apologize For His Comments About Barron Trump
3/11/24: Herrera Refused To Apologize For His Comments About Barron Trump.
[Twitter, @theAKguy, 3/11/24]
¶ March 2026: Trump endorsed herrera after tony gonzales resigned
¶ March 2026: Herrera Touted An Endorsement From President Trump
3/11/26: Herrera Thanked President Trump For His Endorsement Of His TX-23 Congressional Campaign.
[Twitter, @TheAKGuy, 3/11/26]
¶ Herrera Has Supported President Trump Since The 2016 Republican Primary
Herrera Proudly Endorsed President Trump And Listed “Standing With President Trump” As A Central Policy On His Issues Page. According to Brandon Herrera’s campaign website, “Standing with President Trump. Brandon proudly endorses Donald J. Trump for President and worked on his campaign in 2016.”
[Brandon Herrera For Congress, Issues, Viewed 4/23/26]
Herrera Touted Volunteering For The Trump Campaign As Early As The 2016 Primary. According to Brandon Herrera’s Twitter, “I’ve actually helped raise over $1,000,000 for veteran groups, and volunteered on Trump’s campaign as early as the 2016 primary, despite Tony’s smear campaign. Meanwhile Tony Gonzales is a proven sexual predator and liar who voted for the Jan 6 committee to imprison Trump.”
[Twitter, @theAKGuy, 2/22/26]