Donald Trump has exposed himself to accusations of a messiah complex after self-referencing as “the King of Israel”, “the second coming of God” and “the chosen one” in the space of a few hours.
The US president began Wednesday by using his Twitter account to thank conservative radio host and conspiracy theorist Wayne Allyn Root for “very nice words”.
Mr Trump quoted Mr Root as saying: “President Trump is the greatest president for Jews and for Israel in the history of the world, not just America, he is the best President for Israel in the history of the world…
“And the Jewish people in Israel love him… like he’s the King of Israel. They love him like he is the second coming of God.”
After quoting Mr Root, the president added: “Wow!”
Following a series of further tweets on the US economy and his continuing diplomatic spat with Denmark, as well as his regular attack on the “Fake News” media, Mr Trump later spoke to reporters about his trade dispute with China.
“Somebody had to do it,” he said, before looking to the sky and adding: “I am the chosen one. Somebody had to do it, so I’m taking on China.
“I’m taking on China on trade and, you know what? We’re winning.”
The president’s comments caused critics on social media to suggest he has a “God complex” or “messiah complex”.
Mr Root is a firm supporter of Mr Trump and is widely accused of promoting conspiracy theories.
He championed the president’s “birther” campaign that Barack Obama wasn’t born in America.
He also blamed the death of counter-protester Heather Heyer at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville on “paid actors and infiltrators”, while he falsely branded a mass shooting in Las Vegas – conducted by a lone white gunman – as a “clearly coordinated Muslim terror attack”.
In May 2017, Mr Root suggested the Manchester Arena bombing would cause singer Ariana Grande to “wake up” and change her “liberal ignorance”.
Trump calls Jewish Democrat voters ‘disloyal’
He then blamed the London Bridge terror attack a month later on “too many Muslim immigrants” to the UK.
In the Bible, in Matthew 27:42, Jesus is mocked by Jewish priests as “the King of Israel”.
Earlier this week, Mr Trump claimed Jewish people who vote for Democrats are “very disloyal” to Israel.
It prompted claims the president had invoked an anti-Semitic trope of dual loyalty amongst Jewish people.
Democrat senator Chuck Schumer said: “When he uses a trope that’s been used against the Jewish people for centuries with dire consequences, he is encouraging-wittingly or unwittingly-anti-Semites throughout the country and world. Enough.”
