The White House recently shared an edited image featuring former President Donald Trump as Superman on the promotional material for the latest film adaptation of the iconic superhero, directed by James Gunn and released in cinemas yesterday. The intriguing image was posted on official social media platforms, accompanied by the phrase, “THE SYMBOL OF HOPE. TRUTH. JUSTICE. THE AMERICAN WAY.”
This is not the first instance of Trump attempting to align himself with Superman. In a 2015 interview with CNBC prior to his first presidential term, he asserted that he would be a “Superman president.” Following his election, his son Donald Trump Jr. shared a photoshopped image of Trump depicted as a bearded Superman on a mock Time magazine cover.
In 2020, after his hospitalisation due to COVID-19, reports emerged suggesting Trump had considered a publicity stunt where he would appear frail before dramatically unveiling a Superman t-shirt underneath his attire. However, this idea never materialised.
In December 2022, Trump also posted a video on Truth Social where he teased a superhero persona by ripping off his shirt to reveal a costume beneath, tying it to his collection of digital trading cards which had featured illustrations of him as various superheroes, including Superman. The cards were popular, selling out swiftly.
More recently, in August 2024, Trump shared another photoshopped image portraying himself as Superman alongside a group he styled as his MAGA-inspired Justice League, featuring notable figures such as Elon Musk and Tulsi Gabbard.
Throughout these instances, Trump has consistently sought to craft an image of strength and heroism associated with the Superman character, reflecting his ongoing campaign to position himself as a figure of empowerment in American politics.