Former US President Donald Trump has once again sparked controversy, this time by wishing the Virgin Mary a “happy birthday.”
The 78-year-old lawmaker, who has been making more bold assertions about his religious beliefs, shared an image on Truth Social with the message “Harry Birthday, Mary!” However, the initiative has backfired, sparking criticism from both religious leaders and social media users.
Critics accuse Trump of using the post as a desperate attempt to reclaim Christian voters. Many cited his recent abortion comments and shifting attitude on pro-life issues, which have alienated some of his Christian supporters.
Trump has been outspoken about his alleged divine mission, believing that God has a greater plan for him. He has even gone so far as to compare himself to Jesus, claiming that he would have won California in the 2020 election “if the Lord’s son was the vote counter.”
His remarks have aroused debate, with some viewing them as a purposeful ploy to reclaim the trust of Christian voters, while others see them as another example of his unpredictable behavior.
The reaction increased following Trump’s recent participation on the show ‘Life, Liberty, and Levin,’ in which he discussed escaping a claimed assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He credited his survival to divine intervention, despite the fact that a firefighter, Corey Comperatore, died in the incident.
Trump’s recent efforts to appeal to his Christian base could have gone better. His use of a picture of “Our Lady of Guadalupe” for his birthday wish to Mary garnered criticism for being inaccurate.
The artwork is associated with a Mexican commemoration of the Virgin Mary’s apparition in the 16th century, which takes place on December 12th. Social media users quickly mocked Trump’s apparent ignorance of the cultural and religious context.
The previous president’s ambiguous stance on abortion has also sparked criticism. Trump has faced an increasing number of critics after losing favor among pro-life activists by calling Florida’s six-week abortion ban “too short” and saying that in-vitro fertilization should be free.
Lila Rose, a prominent anti-abortion activist, stated, “If you don’t stand for pro-life principles, you don’t get pro-life votes.” Bradley Pierce, a lawyer advocating for severe anti-abortion measures, echoed this sentiment, warning that Trump’s stance could cost him dearly in the next election.
