Ruth Ben-Ghiat: “For those familiar with authoritarian history, it is no wonder that the talking point of Trump’s holiness has become prominent as more of his malfeasance and illegal behavior has been made public. Nor is it surprising that Trump would share a depiction of himself as Jesus-adjacent during his Oct. 2023 civil fraud trial. The image implies that Jesus is with him on his righteous path and that, even in court, Trump thinks holy thoughts.”
“And how typical that Trump declared that he would govern as God’s direct emissary just when the news hit that he received millions from at least 20 foreign governments while he was president, including over $5 million from entities linked to the Communist regime of China.”
“The sudden rise of an obscure backbench politician to the pinnacle of American congressional power also makes sense within this logic. Trump had been indicted a few months prior, and some of his co-defendants were turning against him. God only knew what else might be revealed. Enter Mike Johnson, with his impeccable credentials as a religious zealot and his great potential as a faithful servant of Trump’s wishes.”
