I, Donald, King, and Jesus

Red Baron mangled the title of his blog along the lines of Robert Graves' novel "I, Claudius, Claudius the God," which in German reads "Ich Claudius, Kaiser und Gott." POTUS's narcissism plays into both directions.

The White House featured him as a king. 

He saw himself on Truth Social as a Jesus substitute, giving his blessing to buddy Jeffrey Epstein?

Recently, a real king paid a state visit to the United States. The British monarch paid tribute to the democratic institutions of his former colonies. When Charles addressed both houses of Congress, stating that executive power is subject to checks and balances and forms the basis of the rule of law, the assembled representatives gave the king a standing ovation. Even J.D. Vance stood and applauded.

However, when Charles turned to his favorite topic, environmental protection, the vice president remained ostentatiously seated and did not move a finger. In contrast, the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, followed the lead of most representatives and clapped in a standing ovation.

Here is a German view of the two kings.

@realDonaldTrump on Truth Social, presenting the final draft 

Red Baron reported on Trump's ballroom and mentioned the Trump Arch.

Draft design of a $1 coin

The Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 authorizes the US Treasury to mint special $1 coins for the Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary).

The US will soon begin issuing passports featuring an image of President Trump inside. It appears to be the most prominent use of Trump's likeness in items tied to the 250th anniversary of America's independence.

Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna introduced a bill in 2025 to add Donald Trump's face to Mount Rushmore.

Work has already started.

Stay calm, my friends! This photo is a fake. Experts say it is geologically and structurally impossible, as there is no suitable rock left to carve.

But just how far will POTUS's narcissism go? 

**

A Just War?

Whenever POTUS predicts the downfall of the United States, he is referring to the Radical Left.

Well, on the other hand, he can rely on and is supported by the Extreme Right, which comes to his defense even when he posts awkward photos portraying him as the savior.

On this, Vice President J. D. Vance, the man to iron out the blunders of his boss, said about Trump's Jesus meme:

People are too stupid to understand the president.

Later, during a Podium discussion, J. D. warned the pope he should be careful when talking about religion.

In a step further, the Speaker of the House, Michel Johnson, taught the Augustinian pope, Augustine's theology:

So, while on his Apostolic journey to Cameroon, the pope retorted:

POTUS hastened to point out:

But Leo XIV doubled down:

A reporter asked, "What do you say, Mr. President? The Catholic bishops put out a statement saying the pope isn't merely exercising his opinion; he's preaching the gospel."

©NDR

Trump answered, "Well, I want him to preach the gospel. I'm all about the gospel, but I have the right to disagree with the pope."

 

Trump didn't learn, but "tripled" down on sharing an "Irish for Trump" post:

Already, Einstein "knew" that God doesn't throw dice; does He play cards now?

War Minister Pete Hegseth "tripled" down, too. During his latest prayer service at the Pentagon, he referred to the combat search-and-rescue mission "Sandy One" in which a downed U.S. fighter pilot was evacuated from Iran. 

Hegseth explained that the prayer he will cite refers to Ezekiel 25:17: "And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them." and has been used during the mission. He asked the audience to pray with him:

The video is only semi-automatic. You possibly have to play with the controls.

Well, what he quoted is actually a passage from Quentin Tarantino's film "Pulp Fiction."

Her last word was bleeped.

The religious feud is a goldmine for the media, but what Americans are more interested in - because it affects their cost of living - is the inflation triggered by the war in Iran. When asked about it, California Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove said, "I mean, you name it, the prices have gone up. And this Jude, Dr. Jesus, next is wanting to spend $2 billion of your money every single day rather than help you get health care. His ass."

A final quote from the Washington Post, "Trump's unfavorability ratings are stratospheric across the continent as of March surveys by YouGov: 78 percent unfavorable in France, 86 percent in Germany, 80 percent in Italy. Across the continent, 73 percent of Europeans viewed Trump as a threat to peace and security in Europe, according to YouGov polling last summer, just nine percentage points behind Russian President Vladimir Putin's 82 percent."

**

WEAK on Crime

The feud between the Trump Administration and the Pope entered a new phase last Sunday.

Click to enlarge

A reporter asked Trump:

The answer, "Uh, I don't think he's doing a very good job. He likes crime, I guess."

Actually, Trump's criticism of Leo on Truth Social reads more like a rearguard action when Elise Ann Allen, author of "Pope Leo XIV, The Biography," said:

"Donald Trump is clearly feeling the heat from Leo's recent public condemnations of the Iran war and the need to promote peace over conflict. He is realizing that Leo is emerging as a stronger global figure, and he's trying to remind moderate Catholics why they voted for him. But outbursts like this could backfire as they could further alienate the moderate Catholics on the fence about him. If he's trying to win back Catholic voters, this will only help Leo's cause, not his."

Indeed, Trump slammed the door with his Truth Social broadside on Sunday: "I don't want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I'm doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do."

On his flight to Algeria, Leo made his standpoint clear, "I don't think that the message of the gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing it. And I will continue to speak out loud against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems. Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there's a better way."

But if his “WEAK on crime” wasn't enough, POTUS went one better a few hours later with the following meme.

The image fits Trump's well-established style, being dense with the basic icons of American patriotism and militarism, foregrounding the flag and the bald eagle, with the Statue of Liberty and the Lincoln Memorial in the background.

There are jet planes and bombs bursting in the air and soldiers marching magically, or celestially, through the firmament.

The answer, "I did post it, and I thought that it was me as a doctor.

Late Night host Stephen Colbert doubled,

... and my favorite TV show, Dr. Jesus Medicine Christ.

Regarding the man at Trump's feet, comedian Jimmy Kimmel had an assumption about a similarity ...

... while comedian Jon Stewart flipped out ...

... followed by a strong personal reaction.

Could it be me?

Trump's staunch followers still stick by their president, contradicting him about the meme's origin.

Must be AI or someone.

POTUS had crossed a red line. The image evoking Jesus offended not only Catholics, but it drew harsh criticism from ultra-evangelical Christians, too, who have otherwise expressed near constant support for Trump's decisions.

Following the backlash, no wonder there was TACO*. After 12 hours, the meme was deleted on Truth Social.
*Trump always chickens out

The Washington Post questioned, "Trump and his allies regularly invoke Christianity in their work and campaign messaging. Did Trump blow it all up?"

**

Deus Vult?

Since May 2025, War Secretary Pete Hegseth has hosted unprecedented monthly evangelical worship services at the Pentagon. The war minister’s understanding of Christianity is one that would dominate American life and cast those who disagree with him as God’s enemies.

The worship services have included Doug Wilson, the founder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, of which Pete is a member. Wilson has stated that homosexuality should be a crime and that women shouldn't have the right to vote.

Following complaints, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation has stated that the services show that Christian personnel are favored over their Jewish, Muslim, or other non-Christian peers in the Department of Defense. These favors would only be given if non-Christians attended the services, which is discriminatory.

Soon after the start of the U.S. war against Iran, there were reports that military leaders told their service members that the war was "part of God's divine plan" and that President Donald Trump was anointed by Jesus. One commander ought to have quoted the Book of Revelation, saying that the war will bring the second coming of Jesus Christ.

A new crusade against Islam that Deus vult?

Multiple members of Congress sent a letter to the military Inspector General stated, “If accurate, these outrageous statements—justifying a war based on interpretations of biblical prophecies, and informing troops that they are risking their lives to advance a specific religious vision—raises not only glaring Constitutional concerns, but potential violations of Department of Defense regulations regarding religious neutrality and breaches of professional obligations and standards expected of military leadership.”

Leading the Operation Epic Fury against Muslim-majority Iran, Pete is in his element as a crusader. So on the Wednesday preceding Palm Sunday, Hegseth prayed for U.S. troops to inflict “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy … We ask these things with bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ.”

The War Secretary has repeatedly praised the Crusades and supports the idea of “his” war being a holy war. People who enjoy the "benefits" of Western culture should "thank the crusaders.”

Two of Hegseth's tattoos reference the Crusades
©Gage Skidmore/Wikipedia

Multiple former high-ranking military officials, heads of the chaplain corps, some veterans' groups, current Pentagon staff, and current officers criticize the Pentagon’s shift from historical norms as dangerous. Some of these critics made their statements anonymously, fearing retribution from the Trump administration.

However, retired Army Col. Larry Wilkerson spoke out, “The American military has had a remarkable ride of equanimity and fairness and justice and all manner of good adjectives with regard to religion. It’s done this in a way that’s really remarkable — until now. Hegseth’s actions are totally violative of everything that transpired before it.”

And an anonymous (sic!) said, “If troops are trained to believe that ‘God is on our side,’ what precludes us from doing anything we want to win?

This reminds Red Baron painfully of the buckle the soldiers of the Nazi-Wehrmacht wore, “God is with us”, committing war crimes.

"Gott mit uns" (Nobiscum deus) is a quote from Matthew 1:23 and has served as the motto of King William I of Prussia from 1861 onward. It adorned the buckles of German soldiers until 1945.

However, all concerns about religious freedom and about the separation of church and state in the U.S. Constitution pale in comparison to Pope Leo XIII’s reply.

Steven Colbert presented the clip on Monday this week.

According to the prophecy of Zechariah (Zech 9:9): “Your king comes to you … humble and riding on a donkey.” By not entering Jerusalem on a horse, Jesus makes it clear that he is not the expected warlike Messiah to liberate the Jewish people from Roman occupation. He is the king of peace.

Still, many in the crowd hoped for a Davidic king who would overthrow Rome, and cried, “Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna*!”
*Meaning Save us!

Instead, we read further (Zech 9:10), “And I will cut off the [war] chariot from Ephraim, and the horse (sic!) from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.”

Later, at his arrest, Jesus tells his disciples, “All who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matt 26:52)
**

Jessica Foster

Red Baron learned that MAGA fans have a poster girl who is in the US Army. Her name is Jessica Foster, and she stands for "America First."

Here Jessica is on a mission in Greenland with her colleagues Shaw and Raya.

Foster is an avatar generated by an anonymous artificial intelligence image generator. Many speculate that it could be US propaganda or worse, foreign government propaganda. Since December 2025, she has amassed nearly one million followers on Instagram, mostly men driven by hormones. So many find her glamorous, but she's not at all my type of girl.

She's posing with Donald Trump and his entourage and, as such, rubbing shoulders with world leaders.

And Foster delivered a speech at Trump's "Board of Peace" meeting in Washington, thanking the president for the invitation to the "Border of Peace Conference." Is it intentional, or did something go wrong when the placard also reads: "Border of Peace"?

Between many of her pro-Trump posts, Foster also prominently displays her feet. EuroNews writes: "More than a fake, Foster is a fake foot fetish model who is seen duping right-leaning men for OnlyFans cash."

There's no public record of Foster's military service, and on @jessicanextdoor, she collects direct tips from duped "horny MAGA men." Her followers have been interacting with her and thanking her for her service and for championing the Trump cause.

Lately, she walked a tarmac with President Donald Trump on the first day of the strikes on Iran, and this implication is troubling.

More and more "real" US service members have been wounded since the start of Operation Epic Fury, and an increasing number have died in the US war with Iran.

**

Ship of Fools

Fools looking backward populate a ship without sails or a rudder. 

Sebastian Brant, Professor beider Rechte (canon and civil law) at Basel University, wrote the book titled Daß Narrenschyff ad Narragoniam in 1494, on the eve of the Reformation.

 

In his lecture 'The fool as a guide to the right way of life', Professor Nikolaus Henkel gave examples of pages from Brant's book. He started with the first one, alluding to a Büchernarr (sic! a fool obsessed with books), which lamely translates into English as 'bibliomaniac'.

The title of the page 'Of Useless Books' fits Red Baron well.

I walk ahead in the dance of fools, For I see many books around me, Which I neither read nor understand.           Of Useless Books That I sit at the front of the ship, That truly has a special purpose. This is not without reason: I always rely on books, I have a great treasure trove of books, Even if I rarely understand a word, I still hold them in high esteem: I am happy to ward the flies off them. When people talk about the sciences, I say: "I have them at home!" For it is enough for me to be surrounded by books. ... Since I know little Latin. I know that vinum means "wine," Gucklus a fool, And that I am called "domine doctor!" My ears are hidden, Otherwise, one would soon see the miller's animal.

Im Narrentanz voran ich gehe, Da ich viel Bücher um mich sehe, Die ich nicht lese und verstehe.         Von unnützen Büchern Daß ich im Schiffe vornan sitz, Das hat fürwahr besondern Witz. Nicht ohne Ursache ist das: Auf Bücher ich mich stets verlaß, Von Büchern hab ich großen Hort, Versteh ich selten auch ein Wort, So halt ich sie doch hoch in Ehren: Will ihnen gern die Fliegen wehren. Wo man von Wissenschaften reden tut, Sprech ich: »Daheim hab ich sie gut!« Denn es genügt schon meinem Sinn, Wenn ich umringt von Büchern bin. ... Dieweil ich wenig kann Latein. Ich weiß, daß vinum heißet »Wein«, Gucklus ein Gauch, Und daß ich heiß': »domine doctor!« Die Ohren sind verborgen mir, Sonst sah man bald des Müllers Tier.

The other example Professor Henkel showed concerns Procrastination, an art we are all familiar with, and Red Baron in particular with apartment keeping.

Whoever sings "cras, cras*" like a raven Will remain a fool until the grave; Tomorrow he will have an even bigger cap. *lat. tomorrow      On Seeking Procrastination He is a fool whom God commands To mend his ways today And renounce his sins, To embrace a better life, And who cannot mend his ways right away, No, he sets himself a deadline for the next day And sings "cras, cras!" like the raven, Not knowing if he will live that long. Many fools have been lost, Who always sang, "Tomorrow! Tomorrow!" As for sin and folly, People rush to them as soon as possible. As for God and doing what is right, That creeps up slowly now, People always seek to postpone it. "Tomorrow is better to confess than today! We'll learn to do right tomorrow!" So says many a lost son... That same tomorrow never comes, It flees and melts like snow; Only when the soul cannot remain, Then tomorrow dawns, Then the body is oppressed by pain, So that it does not think of the soul. So also in the desert perished Many Jews*, not a single one Was to reach that land Which God promised with a gentle hand. Those who are not capable of repentance today Will have even more to suffer tomorrow. Those whom God's voice calls today Do not know whether it will call them tomorrow. Therefore, many thousands are now lost. Who swore to better themselves tomorrow! *4. Moses 14:22 f

Wer singt »cras, cras*« gleichwie ein Rab. Der bleibt ein Narr bis hin zum Grab. Hat morgen eine noch größere Kapp. *lat. morgen        Vom Aufschubsuchen Der ist ein Narr, dem Gott gebeut, Daß er sich bessern soll noch heut Und soll von seinen Sünden lassen, Ein besser Leben anzufassen, Und der nicht gleich sich bessern mag, Nein, Frist sich setzt zum andern Tag Und singt »cras, cras!« des Raben Sang, Und weiß nicht, ob er lebt so lang. Viel Narren sind verlorngegangen, Die allzeit: »Morgen! Morgen!« sangen. Was Sünd und Narrheit sonst angeht, Da eilt man zu so früh wie spät; Was Gott betrifft und Rechtes tun, Das schleicht gar langsam näher nun, Dem suchen Aufschub stets die Leute. »Morgen ist besser beichten denn heute! Wir lernen Rechttun morgen schon!« So spricht gar mancher verlorener Sohn. Derselbe Morgen kommt nimmer je, Er flieht und schmilzt gleichwie der Schnee; Erst wenn die Seel nicht bleiben kann, Dann bricht der morgige Tag heran, Dann wird von Schmerz der Leib bedrängt, Daß er nicht an die Seele denkt. So sind auch in der Wüste vergangen Der Juden viel*; es sollte gelangen Kein einziger in jenes Land, Das Gott verhieß mit milder Hand*. Wer heut nicht fähig zur Reue ist, Hat morgen noch mehr, was ihm gebrist. Wen heute beruft die Gottesstimm, Weiß nicht, ob sie ruft morgen ihm, Drum sind viel Tausend jetzt verloren, Die morgen sich zu bessern schworen! *4. Moses 14, 22 f.

In view of my advanced age, I added the following page.

I'm already standing close to the pit, The executioner's knife is stabbing me in the ass*, But I won't give up my foolishness!          About Old Fools Foolishness won't let me be old; I am very old, but completely unwise, A wicked child of a hundred* years, Show the bells to the inexperienced, I give the children a command And make myself a will, Which I will regret after my death. With bad examples and knowledge I drive what my youth learned. That my wickedness may reap honor, I wish and boast boldly of shame, How I have ruined all the lands and made much water murky; I always practice evil, I am sorry that I can no longer accomplish it as before. But what I can no longer do Should remain recommended to my Heinz. *A modern description of being close to the end is "having one foot in the grave."

Schon steh ich an der Grube dicht, Im Arsch das Schindermesser* sticht Doch meine Narrheit laß ich nicht!            Von alten Narren Die Narrheit läßt mich nicht sein greis; Ich bin sehr alt, doch ganz unweis, Ein böses Kind von hundert Jahren, Zeig dem die Schellen, der unerfahren, Den Kindern geb ich Regiment Und mach mir selbst ein Testament, Das wird nach meinem Tod mir leid. Mit schlechtem Beispiel und Bescheid Treib ich, was meine Jugend lernte; Daß meine Schlechtigkeit Ehre ernte, Wünsch ich und rühm mich dreist der Schande, Wie ich beschissen alle Lande Und hab gemacht viel Wasser trübe; Im Schlechten ich mich allzeit übe, Es tut mir leid, daß ichs nicht mehr Vollbringen kann so wie vorher. Doch was ich jetzt nicht mehr kann treiben, Soll meinem Heinz empfohlen bleiben; *Eine moderne Beschreibung der Todesnähe ist "mit einem Fuß im Grabe stehen".

Well, there are two corrections to the text: I am not 100 but only 90 years old, and my son, named Andreas, passed away and won't inherit anything.

Professor Henkel ended his lecture paying homage to a colleague and friend who died in 2009. Manfred Lemmer was Professor of German literature at the University of Halle in the former GDR.

Manfred Lemmer at the Basler Fasnet 1995.
Chancellor Helmut Kohl holds a copy of the Narrenschiff edition
published by Professor Lemmer in his hands.

Lemmer was a specialist on "Das Narrenschiff" and published an edition altering the woodcut on the title page.

The ship of fools sails under the flag of the GDR. The motto of the GDR was "Forward forever, backward never," although the most backward-looking figure is Erich Mielke, head of the Stasi. Next looking to him stands Justicia*. Both have their nakedness uncovered.

*Red Baron recognized the female figure as Red Hilda, the notorious Minister of Justice Hilde Benjamin. Professor Henkel disagreed.

In the front left, a People's Police officer is beating a citizen. And in the crowd is bald Johannes R. Becher, Minister of Culture, womanizer, poet, and author of the GDR national anthem: Auferstanden aus Ruinen (Risen from the Ruins). He is groping a female comrade's breasts.

The present world is full of fools at the helm of Government ships. I found a cartoon that takes an iconic painting as its model: King Trump crosses the Delaware River with his Administration, while J. D. Vance drowns Miss Liberty.

Here is a black and white photo of the original painting:

As a strong supporter of Europe's Revolutions of 1848, Emanuel Leutze painted at Düsseldorf in 1849 the Übergang Washingtons über den Delaware, hoping to encourage Europe's liberal reformers with the example of the American Revolution. This first version at the Kunsthalle Bremen was destroyed by fire on September 5, 1942, following a bombing raid.

Is the allegory well chosen? I learned that Washington's crossing was the moment when, by duping the British troops, the American Revolution sailed from near-death to survival. Well, the Trump boat is a Narrenschiff.

**