During Holy Week, a period of deep religious significance for Christians worldwide, former President Donald Trump ignited controversy by appearing to compare his own persecution to that of Jesus Christ. This audacious move, unfolding against the backdrop of his legal challenges and coinciding with the sacred Christian observance, has sparked widespread debate and condemnation. This article delves into the specifics of Trump’s actions, the reactions they provoked, and the broader implications of this comparison, especially within the context of white Christian nationalism.
On Holy Monday, as the Christian world focused on solemn reflection, Trump amplified a social media post on his platform, Truth Social, that explicitly drew a parallel between his legal woes and Jesus’s suffering. The post, originating from a follower, declared, “It’s ironic that Christ walked through His greatest persecution the very week they are trying to steal your property from you.” This message, which Trump enthusiastically “re-Truthed,” included a quote from Psalm 109:3-8, a passage invoking divine retribution against false accusers. By sharing this, Trump effectively cast himself in the role of the unjustly persecuted, akin to Jesus during his Passion week.
The selected verses from Psalm 109 are particularly noteworthy. While seemingly a plea for justice, these verses are often interpreted, especially within certain white Christian nationalist circles, as a call for punishment against political opponents. The original post strategically truncated the quote at verse eight, which states, “Let his days be few, and let another take his office.” However, the broader context of Psalm 109, and likely the intended implication by Trump’s supporters, quickly descends into violent and vengeful language. Verses 9 and 10 chillingly read:
Let his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow. Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg; Let them seek their bread also from their desolate places.
This inflammatory rhetoric has been historically weaponized, notably during the Obama and Biden administrations, by those invoking Psalm 109 as a prayer for the demise of political adversaries and their families. Trump’s endorsement of this message as “Beautiful, thank you!” cannot be dismissed lightly. It signals a dangerous alignment with interpretations of scripture that justify hostility and even violence against perceived enemies.
This instance isn’t isolated. Just weeks prior, addressing the National Religious Broadcasters, Trump invoked the concept of substitutionary atonement, a core Christian theological tenet, to portray himself as a savior figure for his followers. He stated, “I’ve been very busy fighting and, you know, taking the, the bullets, taking the arrows. I’m taking ’em for you. And I’m so honored to take ’em. You have no idea. I’m being indicted for you….” This pattern of self-comparison to Jesus reveals a consistent strategy of appealing to religious sentiments for political gain and self-aggrandizement.
Adding another layer to this controversial Holy Week, Trump proceeded to promote a “$60 God Bless the USA Bible” on Holy Tuesday. In a sales pitch disseminated across social media, he 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.” Flanked by American flags, Trump passionately endorsed this product, asserting, “All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many. It’s my favorite book. It’s a lot of people’s favorite book. This Bible is a reminder is that the biggest thing we have to bring back America, to make American great again, is our religion…. Christians are under siege but must protect content that is pro-God.”
This “God Bless the USA Bible” is not merely a scripture; it’s a carefully curated artifact of white Christian nationalism. Bound in brown leather, it combines the King James Version of the Bible, favored by white evangelical Protestants, with foundational American documents: the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the lyrics to Lee Greenwood’s patriotic anthem, “God Bless the USA.” This amalgamation symbolically conflates American identity with a specific interpretation of Christianity, effectively marginalizing other faiths and secular perspectives.
Furthermore, the financial aspect of this endeavor cannot be ignored. Reports indicate that Trump benefits from a royalty deal through CIC Ventures LLC, linked to his other ventures like gold sneakers and NFT trading cards. This commercialization of faith during Holy Week, turning sacred observances into a marketing opportunity, is deeply troubling for many Christians.
From a theological standpoint, Trump’s actions can be viewed as bordering on blasphemy. Blasphemy, in Christian theology, involves claiming divine attributes or treating sacred entities with contempt and irreverence. By comparing himself to Jesus and commodifying the Bible for personal profit, particularly during Holy Week, Trump arguably treads into blasphemous territory.
The muted response from many Christians, especially white evangelicals who form a significant base of Trump’s support, is a critical point of concern. Their silence in the face of such actions raises questions about complicity or a form of “captivity” to a political figure. This silence allows the denigration of Christian faith and the nation to proceed unchecked.
In conclusion, Donald Trump’s actions during Holy Week – comparing himself to Jesus and marketing a politicized “Bible” – represent a disturbing trend of exploiting religious symbols and sentiments for political and financial gain. These actions, rooted in and reinforcing white Christian nationalism, warrant strong condemnation. The response, or lack thereof, from Christian communities will be crucial in determining the future trajectory of faith and politics in America.
