It’s Sunday morning. Across the country, millions are heading to church, opening their Bibles, and reflecting on the words of Jesus. It’s the perfect time to remember what those words actually are — and to ask why someone who loudly calls himself a Christian so often speaks and acts in ways that directly contradict them.
Donald Trump has made Christianity a central part of his political brand, wrapping himself in religious imagery to win votes. But the contrast between what Jesus said and what Trump says could not be starker.
Here are 30 side-by-side examples that show just how far apart the two really are.
Jesus versus Trump on…
Humility
- Jesus says: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)
- Trump says: “I am the chosen one.” (Aug 21, 2019, press gaggle)
Love your enemies
- Jesus says: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
- Trump says: “Let’s see how tough Liz Cheney is when she’s facing a firing squad with nine barrels pointed at her.” (October 31, 2024, Glendale, Arizona)
Truth
- Jesus says: “The truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
- Trump says: “I won the 2020 presidential election.”
Peacemakers
- Jesus says: “Blessed are the peacemakers.” (Matthew 5:9)
- Trump says: “Knock the crap out of them, would you?” (Feb 2016, Iowa rally)
Service
- Jesus says: “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.” (Mark 10:45)
- Trump says: “I expect loyalty.” (James Comey testimony, 2017)
Wealth
- Jesus says: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25)
- Trump says: “The beauty of me is that I’m very rich.” (2011, Good Morning America)
Treasures
- Jesus says: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.” (Matthew 6:19)
- Trump says: “The point is that you can’t be too greedy.” (1987, Trump: The Art of the Deal)
God vs. Money
- Jesus says: “You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
- Trump says: “My whole life has been money. I want money, I want money. Greed. I was greedy, I want more money, more money… ” (CPAC)
Generosity
- Jesus says: “Give to everyone who begs from you.” (Luke 6:30)
- Trump says: “I fight like hell to pay as little as possible [in taxes].” (Sept 2016 debate)
Small Sacrifice
- Jesus says: Praised the widow’s two coins above the rich man’s gifts. (Mark 12:41–44)
- Trump says: “It’s very expensive being me.” (2011, CNN)
Welcome the stranger
- Jesus says: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35)
- Trump says: “We have some bad hombres here and we’re going to get them out.” (Oct 19, 2016, debate)
Care for the sick
- Jesus says: “I was sick and you looked after me.” (Matthew 25:36)
- Trump says: Tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act with no replacement. (2017)
Care for prisoners
- Jesus says: “I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:36)
- Trump says: “Kill the drug dealers.” (Mar 2018, NH rally)
Turn the other cheek
- Jesus says: “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other also.” (Matthew 5:39)
- Trump says: “If someone hits me, I always hit them back. Except 100 times harder.” (2012, CNBC)
Mercy
- Jesus says: “Blessed are the merciful.” (Matthew 5:7)
- Trump says: Mocked a disabled reporter with hand gestures (Nov 2015 rally).
False witness
- Jesus says: “You shall not bear false witness.” (Exodus 20:16)
- Trump says: “We won this election, by a lot.” (Nov 4, 2020)
Integrity
- Jesus says: “Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no.” (Matthew 5:37)
- Trump says: “I’ll have to see at the time. I’ll keep you in suspense.” (Oct 19, 2016, debate, on accepting results)
Oaths
- Jesus says: “Do not swear at all.” (Matthew 5:34)
- Trump says: “I swear to you, I’m really rich.” (2011, press conference)
Judging
- Jesus says: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” (Matthew 7:1)
- Trump says: “Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that?” (2015, Rolling Stone, about Carly Fiorina)
Blasphemy
- Jesus says: “People will give account for every careless word.” (Matthew 12:36)
- Trump says: “Nobody reads the Bible more than me.” (2016, interview)
First will be last
- Jesus says: “The last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16)
- Trump says: “We’re going to win so much, you may even get tired of winning.” (2016, rallies)
Washing feet
- Jesus says: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15)
- Trump says: “I don’t like shaking hands, particularly with politicians.” (2004, Larry King)
Servant leadership
- Jesus says: “The greatest among you will be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11)
- Trump says: “I want loyalty. I need loyalty.” (Comey notes, 2017)
Hypocrisy
- Jesus says: “Woe to you… you are like whitewashed tombs.” (Matthew 23:27)
- Trump says: Stood with a Bible outside a church after tear-gassing peaceful protesters. (June 1, 2020)
False prophets
- Jesus says: “By their fruits you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:16)
- Trump says: “Nobody has done more for Christianity than me.” (2020, campaign)
Golden Rule
- Jesus says: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)
- Trump says: “When you’re a star… you can do anything.” (2005, Access Hollywood tape)
Blessed are the poor
- Jesus says: “Blessed are you who are poor.” (Luke 6:20)
- Trump says: “My entire life, I’ve watched politicians bragging about how poor they are, how they came from nothing… And I said to myself, if they can stay so poor for so many generations, maybe this isn’t the kind of person we want to be electing… How smart can they be? They’re morons.” (1999 New York Times story)
Workers’ wages
- Jesus says: “The worker deserves his wages.” (Luke 10:7)
- Trump says: “I know a lot about overtime. I hated to give overtime, I hated it. I’d get other people—I shouldn’t say this, but I’d get other people in. I wouldn’t pay.” (Donald Trump, at a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, September 29, 2024)
Mocking others
- Jesus says: “Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of hellfire.” (Matthew 5:22)
- Trump says: “Low-IQ Crazy Mika” (June 2017 tweet about Mika Brzezinski)
Good Samaritan
- Jesus says: “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37)
- Trump says: “Shithole countries.” (Jan 2018, Oval Office meeting)
Faith isn’t proven by slogans, photo ops, or saying “God” on a campaign stage — it’s shown through how we treat others. Jesus never chased power, wealth, or applause. He chose humility, compassion, honesty, and sacrifice.
Trump may call himself a Christian, but his words and actions tell a very different story. If we take Jesus’ teachings seriously, then we have to measure people — including powerful leaders — not by what they claim to believe, but by the fruits of their lives.
