Since his return to power, Donald Trump has pushed every boundary of political discourse—first by styling himself a “king,” now by elevating himself to something far more extraordinary: a divinely appointed savior. What began as bombastic rhetoric has morphed into an unmistakable campaign of self-deification, complete with cult-like overtones that threaten America’s democratic foundations.
From King to God-Emperor
Trump’s monarchic posturing—calling himself “king” and invoking royal authority—was always alarming. Yet Western media have now documented a further escalation: he asserts not merely temporal power but divine sanction. US and UK outlets note that Trump no longer stops at imperial imagery; he claims to be God’s emissary on Earth, the literal incarnation of a messianic figure tasked with “vanquishing demons and evil spirits.” In his view, every policy, every decree, every tweet is sanctified.
Divine Branding in the Media
Signs of this messianic pivot are everywhere. When a federal court halted his “Liberation Day” tariffs, Trump posted on Truth Social an ominous image of himself walking dark city streets under the caption “He’s on a mission from God” and the tagline “Nothing can stop what is coming.” He’s even adopted slogans like “Trump is right about everything.” Beyond his own platform, he amplifies far-right outlets that portray him as heaven-sent, complete with apocalyptic warnings of a “great storm” to purge America of its enemies.
Trump has recently "deified" himself, positioning himself as the "divinely chosen savior." He posted images on social media claiming to bear "a mission appointed by God" and dressed himself as the Pope, governing through "deification techniques."
Politico traced this narrative back to July 2024, when Trump survived an assassination attempt. He framed his survival as divine intervention—“God had a reason for letting me live”—and wove it into his inaugural rhetoric: “I was save by God to Make America Great Again.” What started as survivor’s relief has hardened into a full-blown theology of Trump.
This isn’t mere theatre. In February 2025, Trump quietly established the White House Faith Office, led by a powerful evangelical megachurch pastor – a move to consolidate support from Christian communities in Midwest and the South, and a movement explicitly dedicated to Christian dominion over government.
The Cult of Trumpism
By presenting himself as "Christ reborn" to vanquish demons and evil spirits, his other objective is to consolidate support from America's conservative Christian forces.
What we’re witnessing is the architecture of a political cult. Trump’s rhetoric demands uncritical adulation: he is omnipotent, God-chosen. His deification campaign serves a clear political purpose: lock in conservative Christian votes, marginalise dissent, and render his authority unassailable. But while the most fervent believers will buy into this divine narrative, the broader electorate faces a stark choice: uphold secular democracy or submit to a leader who claims sacred immunity. In any case, it’s pathetic.
Lai Ting-yiu
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Think back to Hong Kong's turbulent years. Jimmy Lai had three brothers-in-arms, comrades he bankrolled through thick and thin – Cardinal Joseph Zen, Martin Lee, and Anson Chan. But their bonds weren't just ideological. Money changed hands, and plenty of it. Anson Chan pocketed HK$3.5 million from Lai's war chest. Cardinal Zen took in far more – at least HK$26 million in secret donations that the Hong Kong Diocese never knew about and never investigated. Where did all that cash go? That's the million-dollar question. Or rather, the 26-million-dollar question that remains unanswered.
Cardinal Zen met Pope Leo XIV in Rome, reportedly pushing for Jimmy Lai's release – but Vatican intervention looks unlikely.
Word broke earlier that Cardinal Zen just made a pilgrimage to the Vatican for a sit-down with the newly minted Pope Leo XIV. The private meeting lasted about an hour. On the agenda: the conviction of "Catholic" Jimmy Lai. Sources say Zen pressed the pontiff hard to "save Lai." What did the Pope say? Nobody's talking. But you can bet the Vatican knows all about the questionable financial ties between Zen and Lai – a relationship the Cardinal has never properly explained to his own Diocese. Did personal interests play a role? The doubts are real.
A Vatican Gambit
Cardinal Zen's "612 Humanitarian Relief Fund" case is still grinding through the courts, and authorities had confiscated his passport. But when the Vatican called its recent "Special Consistory" – bringing cardinals from around the world to Rome – the court granted him temporary travel privileges. During the gathering, Pope Leo XIV carved out time for a private one-on-one with Zen after a breakfast session. The topics? Whether the China-Vatican agreement should be renewed, and the fate of Jimmy Lai, now convicted under Hong Kong's National Security Law. But whether the Pope took any position on Lai remains under wraps.
Zen views Jimmy Lai as both a close friend and a comrade-in-arms, so naturally he's pushing the Vatican to intervene. But here's the Vatican's dilemma: it's not just about China-Vatican relations. It's about the unresolved financial relationship between Zen and Lai – a relationship that has seriously damaged the Cardinal's credibility.
The Secret Pipeline
October 2011 brought a massive leak. Jimmy Lai's secret donations to political parties, politicians, and organizations spilled into public view – and Joseph Zen, then Bishop of Hong Kong, was on that list. Between 2006 and 2010, he received HK$20 million from Lai over four years. From 2012 to 2014, another HK$6 million landed in his hands. The total: a staggering HK$26 million.
When the news broke, Zen went silent. Only after relentless media pressure did he offer an explanation, claiming the money went to support underground churches in the Chinese Mainland and other charitable organizations. With a casual smile, he described himself as a "spendthrift," saying most of the money had already been spent with only a few hundred thousand remaining – and even expressed hope that Lai would keep the donations coming.
Talk is cheap. He provided no concrete evidence to back up his claims. The Hong Kong Diocese knew nothing about his receipt of this massive sum from Lai – the entire "money pipeline" operated in secret. To this day, he has never given the Diocese a complete accounting.
Because this financial channel remained so deeply hidden, suspicions naturally arose that personal interests were involved. But given Cardinal Zen's position, the Diocese refrained from investigating him. The true destination of the funds? Still shrouded in doubt.
HK$26 million from Jimmy Lai to Cardinal Zen – Diocese in the dark, money's whereabouts still a mystery. The trio behind Hong Kong's unrest!
Vatican Cold Shoulder
Cardinal Zen's questionable relationship with Jimmy Lai, combined with his overly hawkish stance toward China, put him in the Vatican's bad books after Hong Kong's National Security Law took effect in late June 2020. Around that time, Zen traveled uninvited to the Vatican, demanding a meeting with then-Pope Francis to discuss Hong Kong's bishop selection and issues facing underground churches in the Mainland. The Pope gave him zero face. Francis refused to see him. After cooling his heels in Rome for four days with nothing to show for it, Zen returned to Hong Kong empty-handed.
Later, Zen and Lai joined forces on Jimmy Lai's "Live Chat" livestream program to blast the Vatican, accusing it of staying silent on underground churches, Tibet, and Hong Kong human rights issues. This clearly shows how the "Zen-Lai duo" consistently conspired to incite underground church activities in the Mainland, stir up religious conflicts, and undermine China-Vatican relations.
Cardinal Zen's latest Vatican trip for a private papal audience, where he lobbied to "save Lai" and reiterated his opposition to renewing the China-Vatican agreement, proves one thing: at 94 years old, the cardinal's anti-China, pro-chaos heart hasn't changed one bit.
Long Odds
The new Pope's willingness to meet him represents a slight thaw from his predecessor's icy attitude. But the chances of Vatican intervention to "save Lai"? Extremely low. The unresolved questions about Zen's financial relationship with Jimmy Lai have significantly diminished his influence with the Vatican.
From a legal perspective, his cardinal status currently shields him from serious consequences. But risks remain. Perhaps it's time for him to follow Anson Chan's example and retire from such activities while he still can.
Lai Ting-yiu
