By PETER SMITH
By itself, the phrase “Christ is king” sums up a core tenet of the Christian religion, that Jesus is the divine ruler of the universe. Catholics and lots of Protestants have a good time a Christ the King Sunday every year.
However the historical proclamation can morph into one thing political, controversial and even sinister, relying on who says it and the way it’s stated.
In recent times, “Christ is king” and comparable phrases have been chanted at political rallies, posted on social media and proclaimed in speeches by voices on the best.
At instances the phrase is used to help the notion of America as a Christian nation or as one which owes its allegiance particularly to the Christian God. Some present Cupboard officers and up to date members of Congress have used the phrase in speeches and on social media.
However different instances, political activists have paired “Christ is king” with anti-Zionist statements or adverse Jewish stereotypes.
The phrase has gained recognition amongst far-right figures and their followers. Conservative influencer Candace Owens, who shares antisemitic conspiracies, sells branded “Christ is King” espresso mugs and T-shirts.
The controversy connects to a bigger schism on the best, with some conservatives pushing again towards an more and more vocal faction whose denunciations of Israel, critics say, usually mix with blatant antisemitism. A number of the latter group insist they’re not antisemitic, simply anti-Zionist. That itself is a pointy break from what was as soon as a near-consensus of pro-Israel sentiment amongst Republicans.
However there are occasions when the usage of the phrase “Christ is king” is certainly hostile towards Jews, stated a 2025 report by the Rutgers College-affiliated Community Contagion Analysis Institute.
Analyzing social media postings between 2021 and 2024, the institute reported a dramatic enhance of the phrase “Christ is king,” usually used as a hate meme concentrating on Jews. The report lamented this deviation from its historic use as a hopeful, sacred affirmation with biblical roots.
“The weaponization or hijacking of ‘Christ is King’ represents a disturbing inversion of its authentic intent. Relatively than sacralizing shared values, extremists have exploited this spiritual expression to justify hatred,” the report stated.
Controversy spotlighted at spiritual liberty listening to
A current assembly of the Non secular Liberty Fee, a bunch President Donald Trump created and appointed, put the phrase and associated controversies within the highlight.
At a Feb. 9 listening to centered on antisemitism, a witness, Seth Dillon, spoke of usually listening to folks use the phrase “Christ is king” adopted instantly by a extremely contemptuous slur towards Jews.
“This could offend each Christian,” stated Dillon, the CEO of the conservative satirical web site The Babylon Bee.
Fee member Carrie Prejean Boller repeatedly grilled witnesses about whether or not opposing Zionism might be construed as anti-Jewish. She stated that as a Catholic she opposes Zionism however that this isn’t antisemitic. She requested Dillon if he thought “saying ‘Christ is king’ is antisemitic.”
Dillon stated no and that, as a Christian, he usually declares that “Christ is my king” — however context issues.
He testified that the phrase has been co-opted by Groypers, alluding to the followers of far-right influencer Nick Fuentes, who has unfold antisemitic views.
It’s “utilizing the Lord’s identify in an abusive method,” Dillon stated.
Fuentes’ supporters chanted “Christ is king” at the Million MAGA March, a November 2020 rally denying the Republican Trump’s defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in that yr’s presidential election.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican who chairs the Non secular Liberty Fee, introduced Prejean Boller’s elimination from the panel after the assembly. He asserted that she tried to “hijack” the listening to for her personal agenda.
Following the fee assembly, Prejean Boller has posted prolifically on X, denouncing “Zionist supremacists” and repeatedly utilizing the phrase “Christ is King.” She additionally has denounced the warfare launched by the U.S. and Israel towards Iran.
A current Catholic convert, she stated she opposes a preferred evangelical view that modern-day Israel exists in achievement of biblical prophecy.
A non secular phrase ‘co-opted by extremist figures’
The fee listening to was hardly the primary discussion board to air controversy over “Christ is king.”
The Community Contagion Analysis Institute’s 2025 report famous that whereas many “Christ is king” references on social media are strictly spiritual, the phrase has been “systematically co-opted by extremist figures.”
The report stated Fuentes and different extremists use the phrase as a “white supremacist mantra publicizing their antisemitic beliefs.”
Fuentes has stated the Holocaust was exaggerated, and he has denounced “organized Jewry in America.” He has claimed to be in battle with “satanic, globalist elites,” an antisemitic trope.
The spiritual phrase “Christ is king” just isn’t inherently political, stated Brian Kaylor, president and editor-in-chief of Phrase&Manner, a progressive web site masking religion and politics.
However that reality offers a “deniability” to these politicizing it, he stated.
“We’re at a harmful level with the phrase ‘Christ is king’ due to the heavy exercise and use of it on the far proper in very fascist, antisemitic methods,” stated Kaylor, a Baptist minister and creator of a number of books on faith and politics. “We’re on the hazard of that phrase dropping its that means to the place this new antisemitic use is the dominant definition.”
The phrase has additionally gained recognition in political settings with some on the Catholic and evangelical proper who’re strongly pro-Israel and have repeatedly denounced antisemitism, similar to Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Kaylor stated the phrase is commonly used as “a declaration of Christian nationalism ” asserting that “the nation ought to be introduced below the dictates of Christ.”
A dispute over politics and faith
The controversy has highlighted each spiritual and political fissures.
The Vatican has diplomatic relations with Israel and has additionally acknowledged a state of Palestine. Pope Leo XIV has referred to as for a two-state resolution whereas denouncing antisemitism. Throughout the Israel-Hamas warfare, popes Francis and Leo denounced the Oct. 7, 2023, assaults by Hamas and Israel’s large army response, with Leo demanding a halt to Israel’s “collective punishment” of Gaza’s inhabitants.
Different Catholics on the Non secular Liberty Fee famous that Jesus and his followers had been Jews and {that a} seminal 1965 Vatican doc rejects antisemitism and the blaming of all Jews, together with these alive at this time, for Jesus’ crucifixion.
Patrick, the fee chairman, stated the dispute with Prejean Boller displays “an actual drawback with a really small group in our Republican Celebration.” Antisemitism must be repudiated or “that is going to destroy our celebration,” he stated on “The Mark Levin Present,” a podcast.
However Prejean Boller has galvanized supporters from a staunchly conservative group referred to as Catholics for Catholics, a lay-led, self-described “militant group devoted to the evangelization of this nice nation.”
It plans to honor Prejean Boller at a March 19 occasion with a Catholic Champion Award in Washington that includes audio system similar to Owens.
Prejean Boller has reposted bulletins of the occasion on X, together with one submit that shared a Spanish-language assertion that interprets to “We won’t relaxation till we convert the USA right into a Catholic nation.” The submit concluded in English with “Christ is King!”
Related Press faith protection receives help by way of the AP’s collaboration with The Dialog US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely answerable for this content material.
