Trump, divine dreams and his miraculous 38 virgins

US President Donald Trump was surrounded by faith leaders calling for him to be given "divine dreams" during an extraordinary event at the White House on May 2, marking Prayer Day. Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and other religious leaders gathered to sing "Amazing Grace". After thanking Muslim voters for their support, Trump spoke about his interactions with Muslim clerics and made a bizarre reference to "38 virgins".

The concept of "72 virgins" in Islam is a tradition found in certain hadiths (sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad). It is believed that Muslim martyrs will be rewarded with 72 virgin companions in Paradise.

As to how the President came with the number 38, we do not know.

Trump's maths works in mysterious ways.

Trump recently reached the conclusion that "India and Pakistan have been fighting over Kashmir for 1,000 years" and "sharing a tense border for 1,500 years".

The event took place as Trump signed an executive order establishing a so-called Religious Liberty Commission, with various religious leaders in attendance.

At one point, a member of the audience rose from his seat and fell to one knee in a gesture of prayer before Trump. Others raised their hands and joined in singing.

TRUMP ADDRESSES CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS

Since surviving an assassination attempt during the 2024 election campaign, Trump’s religious rhetoric has intensified. He claimed that he had been saved by God.

"We're bringing back religion to our country, and we're bringing it back quickly and strongly," Trump said.

He added that God had answered Americans' prayers by installing an administration that would "make you proud again."

"Surround him with divine supernatural protection," said televangelist Paula White, Trump’s official spiritual adviser and head of his newly created Faith Office at the White House.

Leading a prayer for Trump, White called for a “spiritual reset” in America, with the 47th president at the helm.

"Grant him wisdom beyond human understanding.... and give him divine dreams, visions," she said.

Trump also emphasised his efforts to restore religion to the White House.

Trump thanked Muslim voters who supported him in the 2024 campaign, citing their response to his promise to end the bloodshed in the Middle East.

He spoke about meeting imams in Michigan, which has a large Arab-American population.

"I said, 'You want to die?' They said, 'We don't want to die.' I said, 'What about 38 virgins?' They said, 'That's nonsense.'"

While Trump discussed how Muslims do not want to die, he also came up with a number of his own which is not mentioned in the Islamic faith.

People took to social media to discuss the same.

"It's 72 virgins, not 38. Trump's now trying to rip off people on the number of virgins they'll get. I bet his billionaire friends will get the full 72 virgins," wrote a person on X.

"Trump recounts a bizarre conversation with imams," wrote another person.

Others quipped about how this is going to make some people have a meltdown.

"When you’re listening to Trump’s speech and he says something that you know the left is about to meltdown about. “The Imams don’t want to die 38 virgins," one person shared on X.