According to the Gospel of John, Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, had died and been buried for four days when Jesus arrived in Bethany. Moved by the grief of Lazarus’s sisters, Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus and instructed the people to remove the stone covering the entrance. Then, after praying to God, Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” and miraculously, Lazarus emerged from the tomb, still wrapped in burial cloths! If this significance was to be held true in American politics, it would be for none other than Donald Trump. Like him or hate him, he is the Lazarus of the US political landscape.
The 90s was a difficult period for Donald Trump – as much a difficult period it can be for a multi-millionaire! He faced many financial setbacks including bankruptcy that almost torpedoed his business empire. Additionally, it was reported that he was on the cusp of losing control of his real estate kingdom and his reputation was also in tatters. On a personal front – there were question marks on his character, rumoured affairs and purportedly illicit liaisons.
But seemingly the final nail in his coffin was thought to be his “foot in mouth disease”, not thinking before speaking and when speaking, straying away from the truth as much as possible and as much as needed! Enter, Lazarus Act 1. Trump managed to stage a comeback by rebranding his public and personal image, not only taking advantage of his celebrity and TV status but also diversifying into new areas such as entertainment, branding and populist & sensationalist sport. He had a recurring plot line in the Word Wresting Entertainment for heaven’s sake!
“In many respects, “The Donald’s” political career mirrors the story of Lazarus and the mythology of the Phoenix
This resurgence in social and business success gave him the financial foundation and the public prominence to eventually run for office, defying the critics who had written him off.
Even then, Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign was widely seen as an improbable journey. Almost all of the mainstream media ridiculed his entry into the political fray! It viewed his candidacy more like a publicity stunt than a serious bid for the White House. Many in the American establishment considered him an outsider with no real chance of winning. He was often mocked for his eccentric style, arrogant rhetoric, and lack of political experience.
Cue, Lazarus Act 2. Even with all this going on, much like Lazarus’ resurrection, Trump defied expectations and achieved what many thought impossible – he won the majority of the Republican primaries and subsequently clinched the nomination and ultimately defeated Hillary Clinton in the general election. His victory in the much discussed US Electoral College was a political resurrection to say the least and populist resurrection to say the most!
“Instead of fading from the political scene, Trump quickly became a central figure in the GOP, exerting control over the party’s direction
His first term as president wasn’t smooth sailing as well. Apart from dealing with a number of crises at the political front, Donald Trump also had to contend with a hostile House of Representatives which had a Democratic majority. Resultantly, in 2019 he was impeached by the House on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
He was only saved by a Republican led Senate! In 2020, Trump lost his re-election bid to Joe Biden, and his refusal to accept the results, claiming widespread voter fraud, seemed to signal the end of his political future. This harsh albeit fallible stance resulted in the January 6th Capitol riot, which was partly fueled by Trump’s rhetoric and further stoked speculation that his influence was weakening. On top of that, in 2021, he was again impeached for inciting the mob to ransack Capitol Hill! This did seem like the last act of his life in office.
But the pundits were wrong again! Instead of fading from the political scene, Trump quickly became a central figure in the GOP, exerting control over the party’s direction and endorsing candidates who aligned with his populist and conservative agenda.
Just as the Phoenix had risen from its own ashes, so did Trump – concluding his Phoenix Act 1 and smoothing another run at the US Presidency. Rise of the Phoenix, Act 2: A convicted felon, disdained by many in mainstream media, ridiculed by some commentators, prone to gaffs, polarizing the electorate, brandishing a cult following and surviving assassination attempts. Yes, the dear reader would be forgiven to make parallels! But I refer to Donald Trump’s predicaments when he won his second term in office against Kamala Harris in 2024. This was his second and final act of rising again, just like the fabled Phoenix.
“Resurgence in social and business success gave him the financial foundation
and the public prominence to eventually run for office
In many respects, “The Donald’s” political career mirrors the story of Lazarus and the mythology of the Phoenix. His constant comebacks from the verge of political ruin have made him a symbol of resilience in contemporary American politics. He has faced numerous political and personal setbacks, moments when it seemed like his influence and career were eternally finished. But his continued prominence suggests that he will continue to rise from the ashes of his adversities and hound his opponents, even by coming back from the dead!
