During Holy Week in 2024, Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, engaged in actions and rhetoric that sparked controversy and raised questions about his relationship with Christianity. One of the most prominent instances was when Trump appeared to compare himself to Jesus Christ.
Trump’s Actions and Statements During Holy Week
On Holy Monday, while attending a court hearing related to an alleged hush money payment, Trump shared a social media post that likened his legal troubles to Jesus’ persecution during Holy Week. The post, which he described as “beautiful,” included a Psalm verse often used by white Christian nationalists to invoke divine retribution against political opponents. This action drew criticism for its apparent self-aggrandizement and the use of scripture to attack perceived enemies.
Further fueling the controversy, Trump used Holy Week to promote a “God Bless the USA Bible” for profit. He marketed the Bible, which included patriotic documents alongside the King James Version text, as essential for American Christians and claimed it would help “Make America Great Again” by bringing Christianity back into public life. Critics viewed this as a crass commercialization of a holy period and a blatant attempt to exploit religious sentiment for political and financial gain.
Trump’s History of Comparing Himself to Religious Figures
Trump’s comparison to Jesus during Holy Week wasn’t an isolated incident. He has made similar statements in the past, often positioning himself as a savior figure for his supporters. For example, at a speech to white evangelicals, he described himself as taking “bullets and arrows” for them, invoking the theological concept of substitutionary atonement. This pattern of rhetoric raises questions about Trump’s understanding of religious concepts and his willingness to use them for personal gain.
The Significance of Trump’s Actions
Trump’s actions and rhetoric during Holy Week ignited debate about the intersection of religion and politics in the United States. Critics accused him of blasphemy and exploiting religious beliefs for political purposes. His supporters, however, often defended his actions as expressions of genuine faith or dismissed the controversy as politically motivated attacks.
Trump’s comparison to Jesus, along with his other statements and actions during Holy Week, highlight the complex and often contentious relationship between religion and politics, particularly within the context of American evangelicalism. These events continue to be analyzed and debated, raising important questions about the role of faith in public life and the potential for religious figures to be used for political purposes.
