Guest Post: On Comparing Jesus and Trump
By Samuel McCoy
On April 3, 2023, the Montgomery County Republican Party sent a newsletter containing an article addressing Donald Trump’s recent indictment. Before delving into this article, though, it is helpful to review the term “Godwin’s law.” According to Wikipedia, it states “that as an online discussion grows longer…the probability of a comparison to Nazis or Adolf Hitler approaches.
Perhaps it is time for a new memetic term called “Trump’s Law,” for lack of a better name. In this instance, though, the longer Christian supporters of Donald Trump talk about him, the probability that they will compare Trump to Jesus approaches 1.
Circling back to the MCGOP newsletter, the article about Trump’s indictment proved the truth of Trump’s Law, and then some. The piece – titled “Democrats Arrest Trump” – first begins with a summary of the Christian liturgical events of Holy Week and also the Jewish Passover. To quote, when discussing this period of “hope and renewal…For Christians, it’s Easter, a celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ who was unduly persecuted and put to a horrific death by the reigning authorities of His time.” What does this have to do with the article’s title? All is soon made clear.
The article goes on to say that Trump will never “walk on water,” but that Donald Trump is being persecuted for threatening the “status quo” – just like Jesus. Continuing, Trump’s arrest is described as “just one more station of the cross” in Trump’s “persecution.”
Bluntly, these comparisons seem overwrought, considering the man in question is being investigated for illegally disguising hush money payments to a pornstar. Even comparing Trump to King David would be excessive, since that would imply that Donald Trump is God’s anointed candidate, but it would still be better than comparing Trump to God himself.
On another note, continued Trump/Jesus comparisons make accusations that some Christians worship Trump seem apt. They also do nothing to help either Trump’s supporters or Christians.
Donald Trump is morally about as far removed from God as it is possible to be and, to my knowledge, has shown no remorse for his decisions. He has shown himself to be far more willing to sacrifice others, rather than himself. Regardless, he still compared to God incarnate, who died for humanity’s sins.
Donald Trump is being prosecuted for his actions alone. Even if he is acquitted, he is still far from a paragon of virtue, or even a moderately positive role model.
Comparing Trump to humanity’s savior mocks both faith and politics. It mocks faith because there is no morality anywhere to be found in Trump’s indictment. It mocks politics because Trump has tragically failed to “save” Republican electoral prospects in the last three elections.
Looking specifically at Maryland and Montgomery County, though, if Dan Cox and the Republican’s resounding defeat in last year’s gubernatorial election is anything by which to judge, unbridled loyalty to Donald Trump is not a political winner here in Maryland, especially in Montgomery County. Is continuing these Trump/Jesus comparisons the best strategy for a local GOP that struggles even to run the minimum number of candidates in many local races and fails to win any of them?
Certainly, not.