What is Donald Trump's opinion on controversial Paris Olympics 2024 Ceremony? All about his views on the re-enactment of 'The Last Supper'

By Zahid Rashid Dar

Modified Jul 30, 2024 08:25 GMT

Former United States President Donald Trump wasn't impressed with all that transpired during the Paris Olympics 2024 Opening Ceremony, calling the event a ‘disgrace’. Although a large part of the opening ceremony was received well all over the world, a part of the event that seemingly bore some resemblance to Leonardo DaVinci's The Last Supper has led to controversy on the internet.

The Last Supper is believed to be the final meal Jesus Christ shared with his 12 apostles before his crucifixion in Jerusalem. The scene was recreated through a painting by Leonardo. The act at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, which featured drag queens and a naked dancer in a somewhat similar scene around the table, was claimed by some to be parodying the painting, sparking outrage in Christian communities around the world.

Following a statement from the Conference of French bishops that "deeply deplored" parts of the Ceremony, Trump has also slammed the act, calling it a ‘disgrace’.

“I thought that the Opening Ceremony was a disgrace, actually. I thought it was a disgrace," he said during an appearance on the Fox News program, “The Ingraham Angle”.

"Look, I’m for everybody. I am very open-minded. But I think, what they did was a disgrace,” he added.

Trump wasn't the only high-profile political figure to have condemned the Paris Olympic Games 2024 Opening Ceremony. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson shared similar sentiments, claiming that it was a war on "our faith and traditional values."

"Last night’s mockery of the Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world who watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The war on our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today. But we know that truth and virtue will always prevail. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)," Johnson wrote on X.

Both Trump and Johnson are part of the United States Republican Party. Former President Trump is also the Republican nominee for the 2024 US Presidential elections.

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Did Paris Olympics 2024 Olympics organizers apologize following the controversy?

Paris 2024 - Opening ceremony - Source: Getty

With the opening ceremony receiving criticism from high-profile politicians and bishops around the world, including the ones from France, the Paris Olympic Games 2024 organizers issued an apology, claiming that they didn't aim to disrespect any community's sentiments.

“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think that (artistic director) Thomas Jolly really tried to celebrate community tolerance. We believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense, we are really sorry,” Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps said at a press conference.

Earlier, the Olympics account deleted the video of the act from their official social media handles, according to some reports.