What Trump’s post as a Jesus-like figure tells us about political messianism

Democracy cannot thrive, or even survive, when its leaders see themselves as godlike and divide citizens into believers and heretics, a scholar writes.

By: Austin Sarat, Amherst College, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 30, 2026

Words: 1,404

Last Updated: 3 months ago

Body Text Preview

By Austin Sarat, Amherst College

President Donald Trump sparked immediate outcry on April 12, 2026, when he posted an image of himself as a Jesus-like figure. The post, which Trump later said was supposed to depict him as a doctor, came shortly after the president criticized Pope Leo XIV as “weak” and “terrible.”

Three days later, Trump posted an image depicting Jesus with his left hand on the president’s shoulder. Referring …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us