What to Know
President Donald Trump recently auctioned off a large painting of Jesus Christ for $2.75 million. While attempting to garner higher bids for the painting during his New Year’s Eve charity auction, Trump reportedly offered to sign the artwork. The offer has critics questioning why Trump thinks his signature would increase the value of religious imagery.
It all happened during a lavish party at his Mar-a-Lago club. At the celebration, Christian worship painter Vanessa Horabuena quickly painted a portrait of Jesus as “Hallelujah” played in the background. Trump referred to her as “one of the greatest artists anywhere in the world,” CNN reported, and set the bidding for her artwork at $100,000.
He told the artist that the guests at his party were ‘loaded with cash.’
Per CNN, tickets for the NYE soirée cost $1,450. Trump told his wealthy guests that the money they spent on the Jesus portrait would go to St. Jude’s and the local sheriff’s department. According to HuffPost, after people started bidding, Trump offered to sign the painting to increase its value.
This detail alone was enough to anger people on social media. “Think of what that means to him, in his narcissistic mind; that his signature adds value to a painting of Jesus,” one Redditor wrote. “Do any Christians see an issue with this?” Several others pointed out that it’s pretty weird for him to sign it given that he’s not the artist who created it. “He did not conceive it, he did not pay for it, he did not model for it, he did not paint it – but it still should be all about him,” another critic said.
A third critic said signing it seemed like a great way to “devaluate the painting right on the spot.”
People found it “weird,” but also not that surprising.
Trump ended up auctioning off the painting for $2.75 million, and although the proceeds reportedly went to charity, people still found it quite strange. Someone noted that it “just feels weird to treat something spiritual like a collectible,” while another person said, “Nothing screams ‘I love Jesus’ quite like turning His image into a money-making scheme.”
But given what we know, one critic concluded, “Auctioning an image of Jesus and then offering to sign it could not possibly be a more apt representation of his administration.” After all, Trump has promoted Bibles for $60. On the God Bless the USA Bible website, Trump supporters can even purchase a First Lady Edition Bible, a Vice Presidential Edition Bible, and an Inauguration Day Edition Bible, among other options. Additionally, the shop sells a President Donald J. Trump Signature Edition Bible for $1000, suggesting that Trump might really think his signature increases the value of religious imagery and texts.
