Presidents as Substitute Kings

The essay argues Americans repeatedly frame presidents in providential, quasi‑monarchical terms—from Washington’s bullet‑brushing legend to Obama as destiny and now Trump as divinely protected. This sacralization persists despite anti‑royalist rhetoric, surfacing when supporters interpret survival and success as signs of higher favor. — Seeing the presidency as a soft monarchy clarifies why leader worship endures and how civil‑religious narratives can override institutional norms in modern politics.

Sources

Will Trump steal Charles’s crown?

Mary Harrington 2025.09.15 86% relevant

The piece suggests Trump, though formally a president, appears 'more kingly' than King Charles and wields quasi‑monarchical power, directly echoing the thesis that Americans sacralize the presidency as a soft monarchy.

The Providential President

Carl Rollyson 2025.07.29 100% relevant

Rep. Byron Donalds’s 'The hand of God is on you' remark and a campaign spokeswoman’s 'divine intervention' claim after the Trump assassination attempt, as reported by the Washington Post.