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Posted: 2024-07-28T08:36:54Z | Updated: 2024-07-29T11:29:09Z

Donald Trump Jr. went on a rant over satanic imagery in what many people interpreted as a parody of Leonardo da Vincis The Last Supper that featured drag queens during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Friday.

The supposed portrayal of the iconic painting, which depicts Jesus Christs meal with his apostles before his crucifixion, led to backlash from some Christian bishops and conservative figures such as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) , Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker and Trump Jr.

The former presidents son, who claimed his mother, Ivana Trump, was an Olympian as part of the Czechoslovakian ski team at the 1972 Winter Olympics a claim that has been disputed by the Czech Olympic Committee said he used to be excited about the Games when he was a child.

Now with the ever predictable (& seemingly satanic to me) drag queen opening ceremonies and never ending bs, no one I know even thinks about it beyond maybe watching some highlights, he wrote on social media.

Its such a shame that event that used to create so much national pride now creates, at best, indifference, he continued. Using the games to push woke ideology has zero to do with anything the games stands for.

Trump added that the moment was a true disservice to a group of the most talented and dedicated people on earth.

Thomas Jolly, the ceremonys artistic director, told reporters on Saturday that he wasnt aware of the criticism surrounding the production and that his aim was to include everyone.

Our subject was not to be subversive. We never wanted to be subversive. We wanted to talk about diversity. Diversity means being together, said Jolly, according to NBC News .

In France, we are republic, we have the right to love whom we want, we have the right not to be worshippers, we have a lot of rights in France, and this is what I wanted to convey, he added.

He said Sunday the scene was meant as a tribute to Dionysus, the Greek god of decadence and celebration. An official Olympics social media account also described it as a depiction of Dionysus during the ceremony.

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The world is a stage, and Paris is a catwalk.

The #OpeningCeremony is France's largest nightclub. Celebrities are showcasing young French designer talent, while DJ Barbara Butch provides the tunes. The perfect moment for the last delegations to arrive. #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/zOzELw8n8a

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The world is a stage, and Paris is a catwalk.

The #OpeningCeremony is France's largest nightclub. Celebrities are showcasing young French designer talent, while DJ Barbara Butch provides the tunes. The perfect moment for the last delegations to arrive. #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/zOzELw8n8a

The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 26, 2024

This article has been updated to reflect that the ceremonys creative director said the scene was meant as a tribute to Dionysus.