GOP Condemns ‘Gross Mishandling’ of Bible Over Claims of Holy Trump Assassination Injury

Following the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, his followers, including the Republican Party in Arizona’s largest county, claim his wound is a divine sign. This interpretation, though, has sparked controversy among Christian pastors and theological experts.

“In the Bible, the concept of blood on the right ear serves as a visible mark of consecration,” stated a video from the Maricopa County Republican Committee (MCRC) posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The video cites Old Testament scripture to argue that blood on Trump’s right ear signifies his anointment by God.

The scripture in question is derived from Leviticus, a text primarily focused on ritual and holiness regulations for ancient Israelites. Trump’s followers are using it to substantiate claims of his divine anointment.

Derek Allen, pastor of First Baptist Church Tilman’s Corner in Mobile, Alabama, voiced his concerns over this interpretation. “This is an example of gross mishandling of Scripture,” Allen said in a social media post. He warned against bending scripture to fit desired narratives, stating, “We have to guard ourselves from letting our emotions take us to such places.”

Karen Seat, an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Arizona, expressed that she was not surprised by this interpretation from Trump supporters. “American Evangelicals have a long history of mapping religious and biblical ideas onto political events,” Seat said to the Arizona Mirror. She noted that Trump is seen as a “consecrated lamb” by many conservative evangelicals.

Both Allen and Seat agree that this interpretation of Leviticus is flawed. The MCRC did not respond to requests for comments or questions about the origins and claims made in the video, which follows a script seen in numerous social media posts.

Joe Negalia, a Republican National Convention delegate, and former state lawmaker Liz Harris, were among several attendees wearing bandages on their right ears during the convention. Some religion researchers have compared this act to the counter-reformation era.

The MCRC, led by Craig Berland and Shelby Busch, has also been prominent in pushing election fraud narratives. Recently, Busch made headlines for controversially stating she would “lynch” Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer if he walked into the room.

“This is nothing new,” Seat commented on the ongoing scripture interpretation. “Many people understand that this assassination attempt fueled the conservative evangelical perspective that Trump is chosen by God to lead their political movement, and his survival is seen as having a divine element.”