American politics as entertainment and comedy materialComedyJesus's political alignment and Republican appropriation of Christianity

Jesus Wouldn’t Vote for Trump

Jul 21, 2025 · 5:56

Actor and comedian Steve Coogan (Philomena, The Trip, Alan Partridge) says Jesus wasn’t white, wasn’t American, and definitely wasn’t a Republican. In this episode, he breaks down how modern conservatives have twisted religion into something unrecognizable, turning it into a tool for control instead of compassion. We talk about the real teachings of Jesus, the politics of faith, and why the guy who flipped tables wouldn’t have voted red or blue. Credits: Host: Kareem Rahma Guest: Steve Coogan Creators: Kareem Rahma & Andrew Kuo Camera: Tian Sippel & Maksim Axelrod Editor: Tyler Christie Associate Producer: Ramy Shafi Artwork: Andrew Lawandus

Summary

Steve Coogan has some thoughts about American Christianity. The British actor and comedian tells Kareem that Jesus wasn't white, wasn't American, and definitely wasn't a Republican. He points out that Jesus threw the money lenders out of the temple and said it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. Not exactly MAGA material. The two riff on how modern conservatives have rebranded Christ in their own image, debate whether Jesus would've had a podcast (probably better than Joe Rogan's), and discuss the ascension. Coogan admits he doesn't believe Jesus floated up into the clouds because "if you go up there, it's just sky." They land on Jesus as a probable independent, maybe a democratic socialist. Definitely not a libertarian.

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Full Transcript

So, what's your take? Okay, so what bugs me is the fact that right-wing Republicans in America think that Jesus was a Republican and they think that Jesus was a Trump supporter, right? Jesus wasn't a Trump supporter.

Do you think that they think that or do you think that they don't care? No, I think I think they think that Jesus would support Trump and Jesus was a capitalist.

100% disagree. Jesus was not a capitalist. Jesus was a socialist. But Jesus, he threw the money lenders out of the temple. He didn't like the money lenders. He didn't like capitalists. But I don't even know if the right-wing Republican Christians liked Christianity.

No, they know a guy called Jesus. And they think they know they think they think he supports them, but he doesn't. He never he never would have. I mean the only thing he's got in common with Trump is he hung out with the prostitutes and the sinners, but but he was trying to save the prostitutes whereas Trump was trying to sleep with them, right? There's a kind of thing in the Republican party and in middle America which is like Jesus likes rich people. He didn't like rich people.

No, I don't think that they think Jesus likes rich people. What do you think? I think they're they're just take like you know how they just made him white.

Yeah. They just made him Republican. Yeah. I don't think they're thinking anything. They're just like, "No, he's Jesus is Republican."

Okay. Well, I just want to say to you you know, Jesus was not a Republican. He would have hated Republicans. He's a working class man. Yeah. And he got crucified for it.

You know, he did get crucified amongst other things. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. I mean, the only thing he's gonna come, but the problem is is he wasn't keen on gays. That that's the only thing I think he's got.

But here's the thing. He didn't have a lot of time to change his mind. You know, I would like to think that around 44, 45 you know, that's a really good point. He probably would have accepted gay.

Yeah. He would have said, you know, I've been talking to some of them and they seem okay. Yeah. No, I was sitting next to a guy in the bath house and he came on to me. He came on to me and I said, I'm I'm not that way. But then we started talking about music or something.

Yeah. You know, and he's like a big fan of Radiohead. Yeah. And maybe he said, "Look, I'm not gay, but I like to dress in a kind of flamboyant way." Um, so maybe there's a place where we can meet in the middle.

Yeah. But yeah, Republicans, stop owning Jesus. He would he he wouldn't have been on your side. He wouldn't have. He said it's easier for a camel to get to the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. You know, a lot of I sound like I'm a preacher, but I'm not. You You're coming on.

What? Really? Yeah. You're trying to convert me. You sound like a guy who converts people.

I'm a covert Christian. You're a covert converter. You're a covert converter.

Yeah. Do you think that uh that that Jesus would have ever ran for office or is he not I think he would have had something like the day a show a TV show or maybe a podcast.

A TV show? Yeah. Yeah. Wait, a podcast? I think Yeah. I think you're right. They would have a TV show. A podcast. I think you'd have a really good podcast.

Yeah, it would. I I'd listen to it. I would listen to it, too. You'd be like the Joe Rogan of the left. It'd be interesting. I don't because the Old Testament's got the old eye for an I did tooth for a tooth. He was all about forgiveness. You really know a lot about the Bible.

I had it rammed down my throat as a kid. The Bible I used to Right. I hasten to add. You never really know with with you guys. Oh, the Brits.

Yes. Yeah, I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know all that stuff. Don't worry. You do know all that stuff. I don't know. I don't know a damn thing about it.

Well, what were you raised as? I'm Muslim.

Okay. So that kind of they think that Jesus was a prophet. Yeah. Because well here's the thing. As the newest religion of the Abrahamic 3.

Yeah. They're probably right because you know you get an iPhone and you get the newest iPhone. It has the latest software. It has the latest updates and it's the best one. Yeah, that's true.

Yeah. So I I I'm not Yeah. It's neither here nor there. I know. Well, I think he think he was an interesting guy. I don't think he floated up into heaven through the clouds. I don't believe the ascension.

You really don't think so? No, because if you go up there, it's just sky. There's nothing there.

Well, no, you have to go past the sky. Oh, and the heaven's up there. Yes, dude. Are you kidding me right now?

No, he's not. You really think heaven's right there? No, you have to go way past Mars even.

Okay. Right. So you have to go really far away. Yeah. No, he I don't believe I don't believe he rose from the dead. Um I do believe he had a beard.

What about the long wavy hair? Well, he was black. We all know that. He wasn't white yet. We know he wasn't white. It was he was what? It was a It was brown or browner, but he was not white. That's for sure.

That's the one thing as a British person. You're interested in American politics. Yeah.

Got a little something to say about it? Yeah. I think it's fantastic. It's good entertainment. It's kind of Do you know what it's like? It's bleak. It's dark, but it's uh but it's you. Let's say let's say there was a Democrat government in power right now. There wouldn't be a lot of fun for people who are trying to be funny. like okay, we got what we wanted. It's kind of okay, right? When you've got someone in power who's like the forces of darkness, that's when you can have a laugh.

I think there's a lot to not laugh about anymore either, though. Yeah, I know. But it's like you're laughing, but you're crying on the laughing on the outside, crying on the inside.

Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Jesus wasn't a Republican. He was a He was left of center. Let's Oh, he wasn't a socialist.

Going back. Yeah. I mean, like I know, but maybe he was a democratic socialist. He was a democratic. He got a different like he was a sort of a liberal and uh you know he wanted to bring people together. Maybe an independent. I think he would be an independent.

Yeah. But no maybe a libertarian. I don't know. Libertar, you know libertarians. Someone said libertarians are like house cats. They think they're completely independent. Not really easy. Not realizing that they're dependent on a whole infrastructure to survive.

Yeah, I'm an independent. I'm an independent thinker. Think outside the box. I'm Yes. Like Jesus, come and join Jesus. Forget all this Muslim nonsense. Here's the thing. Everyone's thinking outside the box. So, I've started thinking inside the box. That is the new That's outside the box. That's real. That's really shaking the tree.

Yeah. Yeah. That's what I do. I shake the tree every day. Congratulations.

Yeah. Thank you very much.

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