Former President Donald Trump recently criticized the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, calling it a "disgrace" during an interview on Fox News. His comments were directed at a specific performance in the ceremony that featured drag queens, which he and some other conservative figures interpreted as a mockery of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." This particular scene sparked outrage among some U.S. conservatives who felt that it was disrespectful to Christians.
During the interview with Laura Ingraham, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the portrayal, claiming it was offensive to Christian beliefs. He stated, "I thought it was terrible," and emphasized that he found the depiction inappropriate. He suggested that such a portrayal would not be allowed if he were reelected and the 2028 Olympics were held in Los Angeles. Trump underscored his stance by asserting, "We won’t be having a ‘Last Supper’ as portrayed the way they portrayed it the other night. I just think, look: I’m for everybody. I’m very open-minded. You understand. You know me better than most people know me. I’m very open-minded, but what they did was a disgrace."
The controversy centered around the interpretation of the performance. Many critics, including Trump, viewed it as a direct parody of "The Last Supper," which they considered a deliberate act of disrespect towards Christianity. However, the organizers of the Paris Olympics clarified that the scene was not intended to reference "The Last Supper" but was instead inspired by the Greek myth of Dionysus. This explanation did little to quell the outrage among some conservative audiences who remained convinced that the performance was an affront to their religious beliefs.
Laura Ingraham, the Fox News host conducting the interview, echoed Trump's sentiments by describing the ceremony as "mocking" in tone. She asserted that "Catholics and Christians across the globe are outraged," reinforcing the narrative that the performance was offensive to religious communities.
Trump's criticism of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony is part of a broader pattern of his engagement with cultural and political issues, often taking a stance that aligns with conservative viewpoints. His comments reflect his ongoing influence within the Republican Party and his continued presence in national political discourse. By addressing this issue, Trump taps into the sentiments of his base, who share similar concerns about perceived disrespect towards traditional values and religious beliefs