Recently, former President Donald Trump posted a meme on his Truth Social account parodying the phrase “on a mission from God”, which featured the controversial alt-right symbol Pepe the Frog. This meme, taken from the classic film The Blues Brothers, sparked significant attention due to its association with far-right ideologies and the fact that it originated from a user tagged as a supporter of white supremacist Nick Fuentes.
The image displayed Trump walking on a dark street with the caption “nothing can stop what is coming,” seemingly reacting to a recent legal defeat where the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that Trump had exceeded his authority concerning tariffs. This reflects Trump’s ongoing grievance narrative, where he positions himself as a victim of judicial overreach.
The symbolism within the meme is alarming, as Pepe the Frog has been widely adopted by far-right movements, including QAnon adherents who believe Trump is the savior combating a fabricated network of pedophiles. This belief, engineered by both Trump and extremists, serves to reinforce their followers’ loyalties through a shared sense of impending revelation or ‘storm’.
Trump’s post did not occur in isolation; it corresponds with his history of engaging far-right conspiracies and influencers. By aligning with memes that have roots in extremist circles, he not only bolsters his own support but also inadvertently fuels crypto markets, such as a significant rise in the meme cryptocurrency related to Pepe, which surged shortly after his post.
This interaction between Trump, social media, and the alt-right community raises serious ethical concerns about the normalization of extremist rhetoric in American politics. The evident engagement with toxic and racist symbols undermines democratic values, illustrating how far Trump and his followers will go to appeal to their base while actively diminishing societal standards.
President Donald Trump delivered a controversial speech on Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery, shifting the focus from honoring fallen heroes to boasting about his personal achievements. He proclaimed that he had “everything” because “God” played a role in reinstating him after his 2020 defeat. Such self-centered rhetoric is a stark contrast to the solemnity of the occasion meant to honor those who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
During his address, Trump referenced the 250th anniversary of the Army, alongside other significant events like the World Cup and Olympics, implying that he would have played a key role if he had not lost the election. This kind of boasting undermines the respect owed to those commemorated on Memorial Day, as Trump’s priorities appeared more centered on personal glory than the sacrifices made by veterans.
In a tone reminiscent of grandiose campaigning, Trump stated, “I have everything. Amazing the way things work out. God did that.” This statement reflects his propensity to intertwine religious justification with personal gains, further blurring the line between faith and politics, while using the holiday to promote his narrative of victimization and divine favor.
Trump’s comments on the holiday not only trivialize the purpose of Memorial Day but also encapsulate behavior typical of Republican leaders who prioritize self-promotion over genuine respect for military service. This admission of favor from divine sources positions Trump as a narcissistic figure disinterested in the values of humility and honor integral to Memorial Day.
As he continues to make headlines with such statements, Trump’s approach poses significant risks to the fabric of American democracy. His remarks exemplify an ongoing trend within the Republican party that values personal advancement and authoritarian leadership over the foundational principles that uphold democratic integrity and respect for those who serve the nation.
During a recent Easter event at the White House, President Donald Trump beamed as Pastor Jentezen Franklin proclaimed that “God assigned an angel” to protect him from an attempted assassination. This assertion has become a central theme among Trump’s supporters, amidst a growing mythos surrounding his supposed divine protection. The event served as a platform for evangelical leaders to express their unwavering support for Trump, further blurring the lines between faith and politics.
As Trump introduced Pastor Franklin, he highlighted the significant backing he has received from religious communities, claiming it has been unprecedented. Franklin, a long-time ally, took the opportunity to thank Trump for his leadership, suggesting that divine intervention played a role in safeguarding him from violence, implying that he is a target due to his political stance.
Such rhetoric not only feeds into the narrative that Trump is somehow divinely ordained but also raises concerns about the dangerous intertwining of politics and religious extremism. The normalization of this discourse reflects the Republican Party’s alignment with radical religious ideologies, manipulating faith for political gain while fostering a culture of victimhood among its followers.
This public display of reverence towards Trump and his repeated claims of divine protection underscores a troubling trend within the Republican base, as they continue to embrace myths that disregard factual reality in favor of sensationalism. The implications are severe, as they not only seek to insulate Trump from accountability but also perpetuate a worldview that is increasingly hostile to dissent and critical thought.
By promoting the idea that God directly intervened to save him, Trump and his supporters further alienate the democratic principles of accountability, transparency, and reasoned debate. Instead, they foster an environment of exclusion and antagonism towards opposing voices, a hallmark of authoritarian regimes, and ultimately jeopardize the future of American democracy.
Donald Trump’s new ad “God Made Trump” which he promoted on Truth Social reads like a biblical fanfic, casting Donald Trump as America’s divinely ordained hero battling wicked forces. Think a mashup of Adam’s creation (“God looked down…needed a caretaker. So God gave us Trump”) and Moses parting the Red Sea, only instead of Pharaoh, it’s “those darn Marxists.” This potent cocktail of biblical imagery and cult-like persuasion demands a closer look.
The ad employs the classic “Chosen One” trope, imbuing Trump with near-sacred authority. It invokes Genesis, framing his birth as God’s deliberate act, not a mere coincidence. References to John 10:11 paint him as a shepherd guiding his flock through perilous times, fostering a sense of dependence and unquestioning loyalty among supporters. This blurring of the lines between leader and divinely-ordained savior echoes the tactics of biblical cults, where charismatic figures wielded religious authority to control their followers.
But beneath the divine veneer lies a troubling “us vs. them” narrative. The ad paints a dystopian picture of America besieged by “Marxist vipers” and the “deep state serpent,” reminiscent of biblical battles between God’s chosen and their enemies. This stark division solidifies a sense of belonging and exclusivity within the Trump camp, but at the cost of silencing dissent and stifling critical thinking. This tactic mirrors the isolation and groupthink common in biblical cults, where members are encouraged to distrust outsiders and unquestioningly accept the leader’s pronouncements.
Remember, this ad is a masterclass in persuasive messaging, not a factual biography. Fact-checking reveals Trump’s “divine mandate” often translated to late-night tweets and Fox News marathons, not celestial guidance. His self-proclaimed messianic achievements demand nuanced analysis, not divinely-attributed magic. Ultimately, discerning voters, not divine intervention, are the architects of our democracy. Let’s keep faith in the pews and critical thinking in the voting booth. Just because the ad depicts Trump parting America’s political Red Sea doesn’t mean we should blindly follow him into the promised land.
“GOD MADE TRUMP”
“And on June 14th, 1946, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, I need a caretaker.
So God gave us Trump.
God said, I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, fix this country, work all day, fight the Marxists, eat supper, then go to the Oval Office and stay past midnight at a meeting of the heads of state.
So God made Trump.
I need somebody with arms, strong enough to rustle the deep state and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild. Somebody to ruffle the feathers, tame cantankerous World Economic Forum, come home hungry, have to wait until the first lady is done with lunch with friends, then tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon. And mean it.
So God gave us Trump.
I need somebody who can shape an axe but wield a sword, who had the courage to step foot in North Korea, who can make money from the tar of the sand, turn liquid to gold, who understands the difference between tariffs and inflation, will finish his 40-hour week by Tuesday noon, but then put in another 72 hours.
So God made Trump.
God had to have somebody willing to go into the den of vipers, call out the fake news for their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s, the poison of vipers is on their lips, and yet stop.
So God made Trump.
God said, I need somebody who will be strong and courageous, who will not be afraid or terrified of the wolves when they attack. A man who cares for the flock, a shepherd to mankind who won’t ever leave nor forsake them. I need the most diligent worker to follow the path and remain strong in faith and know the belief of God and country. Somebody who’s willing to drill, bring back manufacturing and American jobs, farm the lands, secure our borders, build our military, fight the system all day, and finish a hard week’s work by attending church on Sunday. And then his oldest son turns and says, dad, let’s make America great again. Dad, let’s build back a country to be the envy of the world again.
President Donald Trump defended calling himself “the chosen one” in a set of tweets Saturday, explaining that he and the reporters present at the press gaggle understood he was joking.
“When I looked up to the sky and jokingly said ‘I am the chosen one,’ at a press conference two days ago, referring to taking on Trade with China, little did I realize that the media would claim that I had a ‘Messiah complex,’” Trump wrote. “They knew I was kidding, being sarcastic, and just … having fun.”
“I was smiling as I looked up and around,” he continued. “The MANY reporters with me were smiling also. They knew the TRUTH…And yet when I saw the reporting, CNN, MSNBC and other Fake News outlets covered it as serious news & me thinking of myself as the Messiah. No more trust!”
When I looked up to the sky and jokingly said “I am the chosen one,” at a press conference two days ago, referring to taking on Trade with China, little did I realize that the media would claim that I had a “Messiah complex.” They knew I was kidding, being sarcastic, and just….
….having fun. I was smiling as I looked up and around. The MANY reporters with me were smiling also. They knew the TRUTH…And yet when I saw the reporting, CNN, MSNBC and other Fake News outlets covered it as serious news & me thinking of myself as the Messiah. No more trust!
Trump called himself “the chosen one” and looked up at the sky on Wednesday as he spoke to reporters about trade and China, leading some pundits to accuse the president of having a messiah complex.
Trump defended the comments to reporters on Friday night.
“Let me tell you, you know exactly what I meant,” Trump said. “It was sarcasm. It was joking. We were all smiling. And the question like that is just fake news. You’re just a faker.”
On Friday, Trump announced he would raise tariffs on China by 5 percent in response to the country’s retaliatory tariffs on the United States.
The media freaked out over Trump’s “chosen on” comment because he knows his large evangelical base has called him chosen by God.
Want to see a perfect example of a “dog whistle”?
Donald Trump defended his ridiculous comments he was “God’s Chosen One” as nothing more than sarcasm, and actually we’re the ones who think he has a Messiah complex.
But actually this is not true.
It’s very well documented American evangelicals, such as Vice President Mike Pence, truly believe Donald Trump is divinely chosen, anywhere in a range from “an imperfect vessel of God” to Jesus himself reincarnated.
From common comparisons to the Biblical King Cyrus:
Trump’s “Christian policy liaison” preached that God told him personally that Trump would win the GOP nomination and help pave the way for the Second Coming:
The president of Godfactor said “God was speaking through Trump,” to motivate Christians to defend their ability to discriminate against gay people and minorities:
Televangelist James Robinson screamed at attendees of the Liberty Council’s “Awakening” conference to vote for Trump, comparing him to the disciple Paul:
Trunews evangelical host Rick Wiles told his listeners while broadcasting at a Trump rally, “God has picked him up and used him as a battering ram to beat down the walls of the New World Order”
The fact is Trump knows making insane comments about him being anointed by God will motivate his base because virtually all of the people listed above Trump has placed on religious White House advisory panels and have been inside the Oval Office.
President Donald Trump has proclaimed himself as the “chosen one” during a recent discussion regarding his ongoing trade war with China. Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump dramatically looked up at the sky and asserted his self-importance in the confrontation with Beijing. He indicated that the trade war was a necessary action that previous presidents should have undertaken, distancing himself from any personal responsibility.
Trump’s comments came in a context that highlighted not only his arrogance but also an unsettling theme of religious self-aggrandizement. Hours prior, he had tweeted that Jewish people in Israel see him as akin to “the King of Israel” and even compared himself to “the second coming of God.” This flagrant misuse of religious rhetoric aligns with historical patterns of Trump employing inflammatory language to rally support and deflect criticism, particularly against those who oppose him.
His claims about the trade war have sparked rising concerns regarding the economic implications of his tariffs. The Trump administration has implemented significant financial penalties, including 25% tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods, with plans for an additional 10% tariff on $300 billion of imports set to take effect soon. Such measures threaten to destabilize the economy while serving as a distraction from his administration’s inadequacies.
Moreover, Trump’s notion of being the “chosen one” signifies a troubling trend among Republicans who frequently elevate their leaders to quasi-mythical status. This elevation not only undermines democratic principles but also encourages a cult-like worship among his supporters that could threaten the very fabric of American governance and civil discourse.
Furthermore, utilizing divisive language suggesting disloyalty among Jewish voters who choose to support Democrats backs Trump’s regressive agenda. His actions and words not only sow discord but equally spotlight the ethical and moral bankruptcy prevalent in Republican politics, undermining democracy in a national landscape too often shaped by privilege and power.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it’s possible that President Donald Trump may exist to “save the Jewish people” from what an interviewer called “the Iranian menace.”
The statement came during an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Networkpublished Thursday. During the interview, CBN’s Middle East bureau chief Chris Mitchell referenced the Jewish celebration of Purim, in which adherents commemorate the Jewish people being saved from genocide in Persia, which is modern day Iran.
Mitchell compares Trump to Queen Esther, who saved the Jews according to The Old Testament story.
“Could it be that President Trump right now has been sort of raised for such a time as this, just like Queen Esther, to help save the Jewish people from an Iranian menace?”
“As a Christian, I certainly believe that’s possible,” Pompeo answered.
The secretary of state is overseas for a Middle East swing, having visited Israel and Lebanon. On Thursday, he visited the Western Wall with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The visit is seen as a show of support for Israel.
The president tweeted on Thursday that “it is time” the U.S. recognize Israel’s sovereignty over Golan Heights, a disputed piece of land that Israel captured from Syria in 1967. Trump argued the decision, which was welcomed by Netanyahu, is critical for Israel’s security. However, critics say it could further inflame Middle East tensions
