Trump Condemns Paris Olympics’ Opening Ceremony: “It Was a Disgrace
Former President Donald Trump has strongly criticized the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, calling it a “disgrace” during an interview on Fox News’ ‘The Ingraham Angle’. Trump’s remarks come in the wake of controversy surrounding a segment of the ceremony that some have interpreted as a parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”
Trump expressed his disapproval, stating, “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.” He also implied that if he had any influence over the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, such a depiction would not occur.
The controversial scene featured drag performers and artists positioned along a table on either side of Barbara Butch, a lesbian activist and French DJ. As the group floated down the Seine, their poses were reminiscent of the biblical depiction of Jesus and his apostles at their final meal before the crucifixion. Despite artistic director Thomas Jolly’s assertion that the scene was inspired by a pagan feast, not intended to mock Christianity, many Christian groups and conservative figures were offended.
Jolly, speaking to French TV station BFMTV, explained, “There is Dionysus who arrives on this table. He is there because he is the God of celebration in Greek mythology. The god of wine who is one of the jewels of France. And the father of Sequana, the goddess who is connected to the river, the Seine. The idea was to have a pagan celebration connected to the gods of Olympus.” He further emphasized that his intention was never to mock or denigrate anyone, but to create a ceremony that celebrated the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
In response to the backlash, Olympic organisers issued an apology. Spokesperson Anne Descamps stated during a press conference on June 28, “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. If people have taken any offence we are, of course, really, really sorry.”
Despite the apology, the incident has sparked significant debate and criticism, highlighting the challenges of balancing artistic expression and respect for religious sentiments in global events.