At a campaign event in Las Vegas, a location more known for conjuring up images of gambling than biblical settings, far-right Georgia congressman Marjorie Taylor Greene compared Donald Trump to Jesus Christ.
Following his recent conviction in a case involving hush money paid to an adult film actor and fabricated business records in a New York court, Greene, who frequently refers to her Christian faith, challenged the Democrats’ attempts to capitalise on the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s status as a convicted criminal.
“The Democrats and the fake news media want to constantly talk about ‘President Trump is a convicted felon’,” she declared to the throng gathered in the blistering early summer heat. Well, would you like to know something? I worship a guy who has likewise been found guilty of felony. And he died on a Roman cross.”
Greene’s parallel did not go down well in some quarters of the political ecology.
One X comment below a video of Greene’s Sunday speech said, “Did Jesus pay off a pornstar and cover it up?”
Democratic lawmaker Adam Schiff of California remarked, cynically, “Definitely not a cult.”
Greene has previously compared Trump to other historical martyrs and Christ, whom Christians regard as the messiah and son of God.
She compared Trump to Jesus and Nelson Mandela, who became South Africa’s first post-apartheid president after serving 27 years in prison by the racist dictatorship, when he was detained in New York in April of last year on accusations of corruption.
Donald Trump is being arrested today together with some of the most amazing people in history. After being taken into custody, Nelson Mandela served time in jail. The Roman authority detained and killed Jesus, she said to the Right Side Broadcast Network.
Radical, dishonest governments have detained and persecuted a great number of people throughout history… Though it still amazes me, I will always be there for him. He has done nothing improper.
Trump has himself used comparisons to Christ in an attempt to take advantage of his appeal among white evangelical Christians, even if he seems to have trouble naming his favorite Bible verse.
Supporters spread a picture of him seated in the courtroom with a Christ-like figure during his civil trial for business fraud last year.
Trump, for his part, shared the fictitious drawing on his Truth Social page, claiming that it was the most realistic court sketch ever. Since nobody could have survived alone this far.
In his fundraising efforts, he has taken things even farther, using the image of himself as a rescuer in a headline on his campaign website that reads, “They’re not after me.” They have you in their sights. Just putting myself in the way.
Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight, who is a fan of Trump, has emphasized the messianic motif as well. Citing the New Testament and the Book of Joshua, he claims that the former president “has been targeted for his information that can knock down the corrupt swamp.”
“One man that was ridiculed, destroyed as Jesus, Trump, can come back and save the American dream for all,” Voight said.
The rhetoric of Joe Biden, who has often advised voters to compare him with the alternative in Trump rather than the Almighty, is a sharp contrast to Trump’s personal references to Christ.
Matt Pinner is a dedicated journalist for WVPrepBB.com, specializing in USA and crime news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for uncovering the truth, Matt brings timely and insightful reporting to his readers. His work on WVPrepBB.com keeps the community informed and engaged with the latest developments in national news and criminal justice.
