The Summer Olympics are underway, but not everyone is focused on medals. Instead, the athletic event’s opening ceremonies have remained the center of attention for one display that utterly disrespected Christian religions.
Former president and GOP candidate Donald Trump is one of many who are publicly criticizing the apparent recreation of a Christian painting with drag queens. During the opening ceremonies on July 26, artistic director Thomas Jolly included a fashion show.
The runway was reminiscent of a long table at which a line of drag queens stood, apparently imitating Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, “The Last Supper,” which shows Jesus Christ and his apostles sharing their last meal together before Judas betrays Jesus, leading to his crucifixion.
During a recent interview, Trump said that the controversial display was a “disgrace,” referring to the entire opening ceremony under this adjective as well. He added that the “Last Supper” portion of the event—which included a wide array of modern interpretations of art and music—was “terrible.”
In response to comments that the next Olympic Games would be hosted in Los Angeles, California, Trump assured Americans that their country “won’t be having” the same mockery that France allowed to take place. The former president added that he is “very open-minded” and “for everybody,” but said that the ceremony went too far. Trump, though championed as a monumental conservative, is arguably soft on some of the Left’s favorite topics, such as homosexuality and abortion.
Following the backlash, Jolly rejected accusations he was intentionally mocking Christians and instead said that the drag-inspired “Last Supper” was trying to “send a message” of both “inclusion” and “love.”
Other American critics include Trump’s former campaign attorney, Jenna Ellis, who said the display contained “overt pagan and satanic symbolism.” Harrison Butker, the Catholic kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, described it as “crazy.”
Catholic Bishop Robert Barron, a popular clergy member with a strong media presence used for evangelization, further said that the mocking presentation was “gross” and called on Catholics to “resist” and “make our voices heard.”
