Trump calls Paris Olympics opening ceremony a 'Disgrace' over Last Supper mockery

"I thought it was a disgrace," Trump says, joining global criticism of the controversial performance.


Pop Culture & Art July 30, 2024
Photo: Reuters

Former President Donald Trump has condemned the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, criticizing a performance that many say mocked the Last Supper and insulted Christians worldwide. 

Appearing on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle" on Monday, Trump labeled the performance as a “disgrace.”

“I thought that the opening ceremony was a disgrace, actually,” said the Republican presidential nominee. “I thought it was a disgrace.”

The controversial scene featured drag performers and artists arranged at a table around French DJ Barbara Butch, adorned with a halo-like headpiece, floating down the Seine. 

Artistic director Thomas Jolly stated that his inspiration came from Greek mythology and the Feast of Dionysus, rather than the biblical Last Supper.

“My wish isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock,” Jolly explained. “Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide.”

However, many Christians found the resemblance to Leonardo da Vinci’s fresco painting of Jesus’ “Last Supper” offensive. 

The French Catholic Church’s conference of bishops quickly condemned the performance, stating, “This ceremony has unfortunately included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity, which we very deeply deplore.”

Trump further criticized the performance, saying, “I mean, they can do certain things. I thought it was terrible. Look, I’m for everybody. I’m very open-minded… but I thought what they did was a disgrace.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson also weighed in, calling the Olympic celebration’s controversy part of the “war” against Christian faith and traditions. 

“Last night’s mockery of the Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world who watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games,” he tweeted. 

“The war on our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today. But we know that truth and virtue will always prevail.”

In response, Olympic organizers apologized to those who were offended, emphasizing their intention to celebrate community tolerance. 

“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think [with] Thomas Jolly, we really did try to celebrate community tolerance,” spokesperson Anne Descamps said during a press conference on Sunday. 

“Looking at the result of the polls that we shared, we believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense we are, of course, really, really sorry.”

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