The attempted deification of Donald Trump and the legislation of Christian nationalism continued unabated last week in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures.
Even as Trump declared on social media, “He who saves his country does not violate any law,” borrowing a quote often attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, his strongest supporters sought to place him well above the law. Bills were introduced that would add Trump’s face to Mount Rushmore and make his birthday — which happens to be on Flag Day — a national holiday in his honor as well.
Also, bills were introduced to declare the “kingship of Jesus Christ” over all North Dakota and prohibit universities in Ohio from teaching “controversial beliefs.”
Meanwhile, a library in California came up with an acronym for a plaque that critics say shows just how far Trump’s personality cult has penetrated the culture. The plaque would recognize the library as Magical, Alluring, Galvanizing, Adventurous. And yes, the alliteration is on purpose.
The attempt to add Trump’s image to Mount Rushmore — along with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln — is not entirely new. Republicans floated a similar idea in the past out of their admiration for Ronald Reagan but the bill met a stony reception in Congress.
The existing figures on Mount Rushmore were carved there long after the four former presidents were long dead and history had judged their legacies.
The existing figures on Mount Rushmore were carved there long after the four former presidents were long dead and history had judged their legacies.
That’s no bother to Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican from Florida. She said via X Trump’s “remarkable accomplishments for our country and the success he will continue to deliver deserve the highest recognition and honor on this iconic national monument.”
This follows another GOP bill that would create an exception to the Constitution and allow Trump — and only Trump so far among the living — to serve a third term in office. The bill would allow any president who didn’t serve two consecutive terms to run for a third. Trump and Grover Cleveland are the only two such cases in history, and Cleveland died in 1908.
Meanwhile, a freshman Congresswoman from New York, Claudia Tenney, introduced the “Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day Holiday Establishment Act” that would designate June 14 as a federal holiday to commemorate both Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day. Flag Day recognizes the anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official U.S. flag in 1777.
Tenney wants the June 14 holiday renamed to “Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day.”
Currently, Flag Day is not a federal holiday.
“This bill will add Trump’s birthday to this list, recognizing him as the founder of America’s Golden Age.”
Tenney explained: “Just as George Washington’s birthday is codified as a federal holiday, this bill will add Trump’s birthday to this list, recognizing him as the founder of America’s Golden Age. Additionally, as our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, we should create a new federal holiday honoring the American flag and all that it represents. By designating Trump’s birthday and Flag Day as a federal holiday, we can ensure President Trump’s contributions to American greatness and the importance of the American flag are forever enshrined into law.”
In Huntington Beach, Calif., a conservative majority assumed control of the City Council last year. Those officials have sought to align their Southern California city with Trump’s agenda by banning library books and declaring themselves a “non-sanctuary city” advancing Trump’s mass deportation plans.
Now, the City Council wants to spend $7,000 on a “MAGA” plaque at the city library in an apparent homage to the red Trump caps with his “Make America Great Again” slogan.
Even though the library plaque is said to derive from the theme of Magical, Alluring, Galvanizing, Adventurous, quite a few residents see it as political propaganda.
The new conservative majority on the council already has barred the three liberals on the council of assignments on boards and commissions. “Most of California has become liberal. Why can’t we have an area for ourselves?” City Council member Gracey Van Der Mark told Reuters.
Not to be outdone, 12 state legislators in North Dakota have introduced a joint resolution that would acknowledge the “kingship of Jesus Christ” over the state.
Quoting Bible verses, the resolution states: “Whereas, Christ said all power is given to me in heaven and in earth (Matthew, 28:18), not only spiritual, but civil, including over this great state; and whereas, Christ is said to have received power and glory and a kingdom so that all people, tribes and tongues shall serve him (Daniel 7:14), including this great state; and whereas, the Father is said to give to Christ all nations and the utmost parts of the earth for his inheritance and possession, and, in response, people and their leaders are called to learn and receive instruction from him (Psalms 2:8, 10), including those in this great state; and whereas, Christ is named the ruler of kings on earth and the King of Kings and presented with crown and royal robe (Revelation 1:5, 17:14, 19:12-13, 16); and whereas, the Founding Fathers of this great state begin the constitution with the words, ‘We,’ … we desire there shall be a recognition of Almighty God as the source of authority; of the Lord Jesus Christ as the rightful ruler of nations.”
The resolution declares: “That North Dakota acknowledge the kingship of Jesus Christ over all the world so that this great state may at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace and harmony.”
Across the country in Ohio, Senate Bill 1 — already passed by the Senate — would require that all schools “not endorse or oppose, as an institution, any controversial belief or policy.”
“Controversial belief or policy” is defined as “any belief or policy that is the subject of political controversy, including issues such as climate policies, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage, or abortion.”
The bill also removes employment protections for faculty and curbs the participation of student members of boards of trustees.