Donald Trump condemned the controversial opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics last week, calling it a “disgrace.”
The former president’s harsh criticism comes amid a fierce backlash against controversial religious depictions during the glitzy event.
Olympic organisers have been forced to apologise to those offended by a painting reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper”, which depicts the moment when Jesus Christ declared that an apostle would betray him.
Friday’s ceremony featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch, an LGBTQ+ icon, flanked by drag performers and dancers. One backup dancer appeared to have his genitals exposed during the ceremony.
Religious conservatives around the world have condemned the segment, with Trump becoming the latest to speak out against it.
Donald Trump has condemned last week’s controversial Olympic Games opening ceremony in Paris
This scene featuring drag queens performing The Last Supper caused controversy during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on Friday night.
A blue-painted singer represented the Greek god Dionysus during Friday’s ceremony.
The former president told Fox: “I actually thought the opening ceremony was an embarrassment. I thought it was an embarrassment.”
Speaking about the opening ceremony of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Trump added: “We will not have a Last Supper as they portrayed it the other night.
I mean, they can do certain things. I thought it was terrible.
“Look, I’m in favor of everyone. I’m very open-minded… but I thought it was shameful what they did.”
The French Catholic Church’s bishops’ conference deplored the “scenes of mockery” which they said constituted a mockery of Christianity, a sentiment shared by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
The Anglican Communion in Egypt expressed “deep regret” on Sunday, saying the ceremony could cause the IOC to “lose its distinctive sporting identity and humanitarian message.”
Donald Trump Jr. has also attacked the director’s intentions, calling them “satanic.”
“My mother was an Olympian (on the Czech national ski team) and as kids we were excited in the weeks leading up to the games,” Trump Jr. wrote on X, repeating the false and debunked claim that the late Ivana Trump was a member of the 1972 Czechoslovak Olympic team.
“Now, with the ever-predictable (and seemingly satanic to me) drag queen opening ceremonies and endless nonsense, no one I know even thinks about it beyond maybe watching a few highlights,” he continued.
Donald Trump Jr. took to social media to criticize the performance at the opening ceremony.
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Communications Director Anne Descamps at a press conference
But despite all the talk about the director’s alleged “satanic” intentions, the scene may have been misinterpreted.
The ceremony’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly, had distanced his scene from any parallels to “The Last Supper” after the ceremony, saying its purpose was to celebrate diversity and pay tribute to French feasting and gastronomy.
Paris 2024 organiser Anne Descamps has since apologised for any offence caused by religious depictions during the opening ceremony.
At a news conference on Sunday, Descamps apologised for any offence caused and insisted the ceremony was intended to “celebrate community tolerance”.
“It is clear that there was never any intention to disrespect any religious group,” he said.
“On the contrary, I think Thomas Jolly intended to celebrate community tolerance. We believe that this ambition has been achieved. If anyone has felt offended, we are of course very sorry.”
This came after thousands of social media users threatened to boycott the Paris Games over the opening ceremony.
Angry viewers took to X (formerly Twitter) where the hashtags “#boycottOlympics” and “#boycottParis2024” trended over the course of the next day.
Echoing criticism from others, Rob Schneider claimed the ceremony celebrates Satan.
The appearance of a “naked blue man” in a scene resembling the Last Supper angered many viewers, especially Christians.
One wrote: ‘What a disgraceful opening to the 2024 Olympics #BoycottOlympics’.
Another said they “didn’t even care about the Olympics” but were now “boycotting them 100 percent.”
Saturday Night Live alum Rob Schneider is among those boycotting the Olympics over the controversial opening ceremony, which he calls a Satanic display that “disrespects Christianity.”
“I hate to say to ALL the BEST ATHLETES in the world that I wish you ALL THE BEST, but I cannot watch an Olympics that disrespects Christianity and openly celebrates Satan,” the 60-year-old wrote on X.
“Guys with their genitals exposed in front of children?!” Schneider wrote in another post. “Drag queens?! I wasn’t sure if I was watching the Olympics or a school board meeting…”