At a moment meant to honor the late Pope Francis and unite the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics in mourning, Donald Trump somehow managed to seize the spotlight.
As mourners gathered inside St Peter’s Basilica, an unexpected image took center stage — Trump, sitting almost reverently across from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
It wasn’t just a photo opportunity; it became the image of the day.
And whether you love or loathe him, there’s no denying it worked to Trump’s advantage, reinforcing the image he wants to project to American churchgoers: a man of deep faith.
A Strategy Rooted More in Optics Than Belief
Of course, anyone who’s watched Trump closely knows this “faith-driven” image is more about political strategy than spiritual devotion.
Winning over the evangelical vote is crucial in American politics — George W. Bush understood that better than anyone.
But while Bush genuinely lived by Christian doctrines, Trump’s public displays often feel more like performance art.
It’s almost miraculous how Trump, a man who once looked utterly bored during religious services at the White House, has managed to sell himself as a champion of faith.
Trump’s Awkward History with Religion on Full Display
Who could forget that cringeworthy TV moment from his first presidential run? Asked to name his favorite Bible verse, Trump stumbled awkwardly, calling it “very personal” before quickly dodging specifics.
When pressed on whether he preferred the Old or New Testament, he famously blurted out, “Probably… equal!”
A friend of mine, someone who’s actually dealt with Trump, put it best: “I don’t know if Donald believes in God, but I’m sure he thinks God believes in him.”
That kind of blind self-belief came shining through after the assassination attempt last summer.
After being wounded, Trump claimed, “My faith took on new meaning on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, where I was knocked to the ground, essentially by a supernatural hand.”
Spoiler: it was his security team who pulled him down.
When Religious Imagery Becomes Blasphemy
Pushing things even further, Trump recently shared a video at his rallies suggesting he was heaven-sent: “On June 14, 1946, God looked down on his planned Paradise and said, ‘I need a caretaker.’ So God gave us Trump.”
Even some evangelicals, despite their loyalty, have drawn the line.
One disillusioned believer wrote, “I have no idea how a man with such an intense lack of integrity and respect is the figurehead of a larger movement claiming to bring God back to America.”
As someone who isn’t even Christian, I can tell you — the core of Christianity is compassion for the weak.
And Trump? His treatment of vulnerable people tells a different story entirely.
Trump’s Callous Attitude Toward the Vulnerable
One disturbing story comes straight from Trump’s own family.
In a book called All In The Family, Trump’s nephew Fred C. Trump recounts a chilling moment when Donald, speaking about Fred’s disabled son, sighed and said, “Maybe you should just let him die and move down to Florida.”
That’s not just indifference — it’s cruelty. And yet millions still hail him as a Christian leader.
Putin Mirrors Trump’s Religious Posturing on a Darker Scale
But if you think Trump’s use of religious imagery is disturbing, look no further than Vladimir Putin.
The Russian leader wears his Orthodox faith like a suit of armor, using it to justify his brutal war against Ukraine.
Putin paints the battle as a holy war, evoking the idea of “historic Rus” and framing Ukraine’s independence as a kind of religious blasphemy against Moscow.
It’s pure manipulation — a religious cover for old Soviet-style empire-building.
A Church Turned Weapon of War
Ironically, the Soviet Union was fiercely atheist, destroying churches and executing priests.
But when Hitler invaded, Stalin cynically revived the Church to boost morale.
Today, Putin has Patriarch Kirill — a former KGB man himself — singing his praises.
Kirill has even called the Ukraine war a defense of “Holy Rus” and declared Putin “sent by God.”
It’s no wonder that, as historian Alexander J. Motyl notes, Putin probably doesn’t believe in God — but has no problem selling that fantasy to a population hungry for spiritual validation.
Putin’s War Leaves a Trail of Destroyed Churches
Since Putin’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s Christian sites have been under attack. Cathedrals, churches, monasteries — bombed and shattered.
Among them: St Michael’s Cathedral, St Nicholas in Mariupol, Dormition Cathedral in Kharkiv, and many more.
On Palm Sunday, a “double tap” missile strike killed 35 civilians in Sumy, targeting even those preparing Easter cakes.
America’s Disturbing Shrug in Response
And what was the response from Trump, the supposed defender of Christian values? A shrug.
“I was told they made a mistake,” he said dismissively.
Worse yet, he added that Ukraine “shouldn’t start a war with someone 20 times their size,” again blaming the victims.
It’s chilling, but not surprising: Trump admires Putin’s ruthlessness.
He may not use poison or bombs — but in spirit, Trump craves the same total dominance.
Delusion on Both Sides of the Atlantic
In the end, what’s most disturbing isn’t just the actions of Trump and Putin — it’s the blind worship they receive.
Trump’s supporters hail him as a messiah. Putin’s loyalists treat him as a savior.
Both leaders feed off delusion, rewriting morality to suit their own hunger for power.
It’s a dangerous reminder that when faith becomes just another political weapon, the result isn’t righteousness — it’s devastation.