For many Christians in the United States and around the world observing Holy Week, a period dedicated to solemn reflection and repentance leading up to Easter, the actions of Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, have sparked significant controversy. During this sacred time, Trump engaged in behaviors that have been widely criticized as blasphemous, particularly his comparison of himself to Jesus Christ and the promotion of a for-profit “God Bless the USA Bible.”
Donald Trump compared himself to Jesus
Trump’s Self-Comparison to Jesus and Psalm 109 Controversy
On Holy Monday, while attending court proceedings related to alleged hush money payments, Trump amplified a social media post that explicitly compared his persecution to that of Jesus Christ. This message, shared on his Truth Social platform, stated, “It’s ironic that Christ walked through His greatest persecution the very week they are trying to steal your property from you.” The post further included verses from Psalm 109:3-8, a passage that implores divine retribution against false accusers.
Trump’s endorsement of this comparison, labeling it “Beautiful, thank you!”, is deeply problematic. Psalm 109, in its entirety, is not merely a plea for justice but contains harsh imprecations. While the excerpt shared by Trump stops at verse 8, the subsequent verses (9-10) take a darker turn, calling for misfortune upon the families of the accused: “Let his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow. Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg.”
This selective and decontextualized use of scripture is a recurring tactic within white Christian nationalism. Historically, these verses have been weaponized by some to invoke curses against political opponents, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Trump’s embrace of this rhetoric, particularly during Holy Week, is seen by many as not only sacrilegious but also as a dangerous incitement to violence against his perceived enemies, subtly encouraging his followers to accept, or even perpetrate, hateful actions under a veneer of religious justification.
“God Bless the USA Bible” and the Commercialization of Faith
Adding to the controversy, on Holy Tuesday, Trump began promoting a “God Bless the USA Bible” priced at $60. His promotional message, posted on social media platform X, urged, “Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless The USA Bible.” In a video promoting the Bible, flanked by American flags, Trump asserted its importance for the heart and soul, stating, “All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many. It’s my favorite book.”
However, this is not a traditional Bible. This “God Bless the USA Bible” conflates scripture with nationalistic symbols, binding the King James Version of the Bible with the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the lyrics to Lee Greenwood’s patriotic song, “God Bless the USA.” This amalgamation represents a tangible embodiment of white Christian nationalism, blending American civil religion with Christian scripture for commercial gain.
Reports indicate that Trump benefits financially from sales of this Bible through a licensing agreement, further highlighting the commercial exploitation of faith. This venture transforms Holy Week, a period of Christian piety, into a crass marketing opportunity, leveraging religious sentiment for personal profit amidst his mounting legal and financial pressures.
Blasphemy and the Silence of Christians
The convergence of Trump’s self-aggrandizing comparison to Jesus and the sale of the “God Bless the USA Bible” during Holy Week leads to a serious theological charge: blasphemy. Blasphemy, in Christian theology, involves claiming divine attributes or treating sacred entities with contempt and irreverence. Trump’s actions can be interpreted as fitting this description, as he appears to elevate himself to a Christ-like status while simultaneously commodifying the Bible for financial gain, blurring the lines between religious devotion and political allegiance.
What is particularly concerning is the muted response from Christian communities, especially white evangelicals, who are a key demographic within Trump’s base. This silence, especially during the most sacred week in the Christian calendar, suggests a troubling level of complicity in Trump’s actions. The failure to openly condemn these acts of perceived blasphemy reflects a deeper issue: the captivity of segments of Christianity to political idolatry and the dangerous fusion of faith with nationalist agendas.
In conclusion, Donald Trump’s actions during Holy Week, from comparing himself to Jesus to marketing a nationalist Bible, represent a significant departure from Christian values and a descent into what many perceive as blasphemy. These events serve as a stark reminder of the perils of white Christian nationalism and the urgent need for Christians to critically examine the intersection of their faith and political affiliations, speaking out against the exploitation and distortion of religious beliefs for political and personal gain.
