This Sunday, Easter Sunday within the Orthodox custom, the president of america attacked Pope Leo for being “woke” and “weak” and in addition pictured himself (once more) as Jesus Christ elevating individuals from the lifeless. Lucca Signorelli, in his large fresco that has hung within the Orvieto Cathedral for over 500 years, additionally paints the antichrist as elevating—or claiming to lift—individuals from the lifeless.
The response to Trump’s “blasphemy” (a phrase utilized by quite a few pundits about Trump’s newest antics) has been raucous even amongst his most outspoken MAGA followers and ex-followers. One article learn: “Distinguished conservatives slammed the president’s resolution to check himself to Jesus shortly after taking potshots on the pope.” *
Former MAGA Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene shouted: “I utterly denounce this and I’m praying in opposition to it!!!… It’s greater than blasphemy. It’s an Antichrist Spirit.”
I haven’t heard a lot concern from Republicans in Congress, nonetheless. Have you ever? They maintain the facility to do one thing about madman kings: Invoke the 25th Modification.
Others have famous that within the AI-generated portray of Trump as Jesus elevating the lifeless (discover everybody within the image is white; I assume this Jesus solely resurrects white individuals), the lifeless man appears to resemble none apart from, very intently…Jeffrey Epstein!
How’s that for an Easter greeting? (Is that this a delicate response to Melania’s Epstein discuss of final week that caught even her husband abruptly?)
Not solely is Trump deranged, however he’s additionally taking the complete Republican celebration with him down a rabbit gap of evil so pronounced it might be humorous…aside from penalties like destroying a civilization and destroying our planet.
To his credit score, Pope Leo responded to Trump’s assault with a satiric dig about how “ironic” the identify of Trump’s “Reality Social” account is. Clearly, it’s neither truthful nor serving society: that’s, the widespread good. He additionally took the event to say he’s “unafraid” of Trump & Co.
The pope additionally used the event to remind people who—in contrast to the ever-sure-of-himself, Christian-nationalist-fanatic working the Division of Protection and holding prayer conferences praying for victory “in Jesus’ identify”—Jesus taught peace and never battle, and the Gospel is about liberation for the poor.
Talking of Christian nationalism, Trump’s publish of himself as Jesus Christ is surrounded by American imagery: the US flag, bald eagles, the Statue of Liberty (presumably minus the welcoming message to the poor and people craving to be free), and different monuments. Nothing idolatrous there, proper?
Some referred to as Trump’s deranged Easter greeting a “bonkers Pope assault” and others a “deranged publish.” On the identical day, 60 Minutes ran an change with three American cardinals who had their wits and intelligence about them. Trump declared that he was answerable for the pope’s election—“If I wasn’t within the White Home, Leo wouldn’t be within the Vatican” and scolded the pope: “Leo ought to get his act collectively as Pope, use Frequent Sense, cease catering to the Radical Left, and deal with being a Nice Pope, not a Politician.”
I’m wondering how all this can sit with the 55% of Catholics who voted Trump into the White Home.
Poor Donald. In a single week his second favourite fascist chief in Europe (after Putin) was voted out in Hungary (regardless of Trump’s interfering with the election by sending vice chairman Vance there to marketing campaign for him); his spouse gave a speech within the White Home flanked by flags, and many others., about figuring out Epstein and Maxwell hardly in any respect (photographs on the contrary); he delivered the Hormuz Strait to Iran; his peace talks crashed; and he picked a combat with the Pope whereas committing an idolatrous act so perverse that even MAGA backers are calling him the antichrist.
25th Modification, anybody?
*Catherine Bouris and Ewan Palmer, “Even MAGA Recoils at Trump Cosplaying as Christ in Deranged Publish,” The Day by day Beast, April 13, 2026
Banner Picture: Tick-tock: time is ripe for the twenty fifth Modification. Picture by Lesley~B on Flickr.
Queries for Contemplation
What are your reactions to Trump attacking the pope and depicting himself as Jesus Christ elevating an Epstein look-alike from the lifeless? Time for the 25th Modification? And a straitjacket, possibly?
Associated Readings by Matthew Fox
Trump and the MAGA Motion as Antichrist
Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Remodeling Evil in Soul & Society
Adam Bucko and Matthew Fox, Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Imaginative and prescient for a New Era
Charles Burack, ed., Matthew Fox: Important Writings in Creation Spirituality
Unique Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Presents for the Peoples of the Earth
A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Consciousness with Social Justice
