Trump as Divine Healer/Modern Jesus!?
I am not offended by religious spoofs such as Monty Python’s witty, clever & often insightful skits.
However, my immediate reaction to the image of Donald Trump as a divine healer in the guise of a Jesus-like figure was - & continues to be – contempt.
Below I will consider some of the attributes of the image that collectively create such a strongly negative reaction in me.
I find it appalling that this image – I cannot bring myself to name it a work of art - was apparently commissioned by Trump not as a spoof – which still would have been in bad taste - but as something to be regarded seriously.
I find the attitude of anyone who considered it appropriate to have themselves portrayed in the guise of any leader of any world religion – Mohammed, Confucius , Buddha, Lao Tzu – equally offensive for the sheer arrogance, conceit and hubris of the idea.
This image is a visual testament to Trump’s attitude of political messianism - a belief in himself as a messiah, as anointed leader & saviour, as a leader who is endowed with godlike attributes that Trump has brought to his position as President. In a 2019 speech, Trump referred to himself as ‘the chosen one’ but, as the political theorist s observed, there can be no messiahs in a democracy.
The messianic idea is further stated by the light emanating from Trump’s hands, which is a visual representation of the concept of an inward light, the light of God within. Which then leads to the image’s contention that Trump can use this godly light to perform miracles of healing. No wonder that the expression on the face of the nurse as she gazes up at Trump is one of awe, though perhaps incredulity would have been more appropriate. And to whom is the woman on the left praying? Is it to God to thank him for having Trump as President? Ye gods!
In contrast, the men in ersatz military uniform positioned either side of Trump are portrayed as more stoic, though one of them gazes up approvingly at Trump. The upward gazes of this man and of the nurse, along with conveying approbation, indicate submissiveness – the yielding of the people to the authority of a god-like leader.
Patriotic imagery pervades the image. The dominant motif of the American flag which is shown as the same size as the figure of Trump, along with the smaller images of the Statue of Liberty, White House, Lincoln Memorial and bald eagles, position this activity as happening in the U.S. Though the relative sizes of the flag and statue position patriotism as more important than liberty. I am inevitably reminded of the contention of Samuel Johnson that ‘Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel’.
But what I find the most anachronistic and disturbing of the motifs in the image are those relating to the military. In addition to the images of war planes, it must be remembered that bald eagles, in addition to symbolising strength and courage, are also birds of prey. Nothing about the real Jesus would suggest to me that men and machines dedicated to killing the enemy – combatants and civilians alike - is appropriate to being shown in conjunction with a Jesus-like figure. I know that in previous wars, prayers have been said by pastors for God’s help in the combat and for gaining victory, though I believe that this custom is somewhat compromised in light of the instruction of Jesus to love one’s enemy.
The most puzzling imagery is that of the figures at top centre. Because of their aerial positioning & their indistinct focus, I interpret the figures on either side to be dead soldiers who have been raised to heavenly glory. But I find the central figure a real enigma. At first, I thought that this, too, was an image of a dead soldier with his arms raised in victory. But then I saw that he was holding hands with the figure on the left – so what are the raised appendages? And why is the figure depicted with a radiate crown in the place where one would expect his head to be? A radiate crown symbolises divinity and power, and in antiquity it was an attribute to honour pagan sun deities like the Greek Helios and the Roman Sol. Later, Roman emperors adopted the radiate crown to project their divine status. Also, the Statue of Liberty wears such a crown with its seven rays symbolising the seven continents and seven seas. So just who or what is this central image, and what does it symbolise?
Considered together and in relationship to each other, these attributes create a very disturbing and alarming picture of the self-concept of the current leader of the U.S. Many countries, large and small, have been led at various times by people who are less than satisfactory personally and as politicians, diplomats and military leaders. But, as we see in the daily news, when the disordered leader is the head of a country that is significant among the nations of the world, the negative effects of such leadership cause chaos in international affairs and result in enormous suffering for millions of people.
In the end, my overarching reaction to this awful image is a great sadness that we live in a world where a self-obsessed, self-glorifying, solipsistic and narcissistic person, who is also a liar, a chauvinist and a bigot, and who thought it was appropriate to have himself depicted in the guise of Jesus, could be considered by the millions of people who voted for him and who continue to support him, as a person suitable to lead one of the world’s significant nations.
Shirley Dixon