Spanish town targets Trump in controversial Easter festival as locals shoot and burn an effigy of the former president during their centuries-old “Judas” ritual.
At a Glance
- A Donald Trump effigy was shot and burned during an Easter Sunday celebration in Coripe, Spain
- The “Quema de Judas” festival selects a controversial figure each year to represent the biblical betrayer Judas
- The Trump effigy, created by local school mothers, was paraded through town before being hung, shot, and burned
- Last year’s target was Koldo García, a figure linked to a Spanish corruption scandal
- Similar effigy burnings targeting Trump also occurred in other parts of Spain and Mexico
Small Spanish Town Targets Former President in Ancient Ritual
The small town of Coripe in Seville, Spain made international headlines this Easter Sunday when residents selected former U.S. President Donald Trump as the subject of their annual “Quema de Judas” (Burning of Judas) festival. As part of this centuries-old tradition, declared an Andalusian Festival of National Tourist Interest, townspeople created an effigy of Trump dressed in his signature dark navy suit and red tie, complete with recognizable blonde hair. The figure was crafted by mothers of students at the Iripo Primary School, who apparently deemed the former president worthy of this year’s dubious honor.
The ritual follows a specific sequence of events that combine religious observance with public commentary. Following a solemn procession of the Resurrected Christ through town streets, the Trump effigy was marched through Coripe, suspended from a fig tree next to the local church, and then subjected to a barrage of gunfire from local marksmen using blank ammunition. The symbolic execution culminated with the effigy being set ablaze as townspeople watched, completing what local tradition considers a form of community judgment on figures deemed controversial.
Festival Tradition Rooted in Biblical Symbolism
The Quema de Judas festival draws its inspiration from the biblical account of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus Christ. Each year, the community selects a figure they collectively view as representing “reprehensible” qualities or actions. Last year’s chosen effigy depicted Koldo García, a figure associated with a Spanish corruption scandal. The selection of Trump follows this pattern of targeting controversial public figures, with the former president’s contentious tenure in office and numerous scandals apparently meeting the town’s criteria for this year’s representation.
“The Judas is brought to the square accompanied by the traditional ‘cabezudos’ and gunmen. Once the effigy is hanging from a fig tree next to the church, the town’s gunmen shoot the image with blank ammunition until it is completely burnt.” – Tourism Seville website.
According to the Tourism Seville website, the festival “represents the satirical punishment of humankind’s most despicable acts.” The site elaborates that “corruption and murder, among others, are burnt at the bonfire of justice.” While possibly shocking to American audiences, such rituals have deep cultural roots in Spain and throughout much of Latin America, dating back centuries as a form of cultural expression and social commentary. The former president was likely unaware of the event, as he was reportedly at the White House participating in Easter activities.
Part of a Wider Cultural Phenomenon
Trump wasn’t the only world leader targeted in Spanish Easter festivals this year. Similar effigy-burning ceremonies occurred in Alfaro, Spain, while parts of Mexico also featured Trump effigies alongside those of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. These customs reflect a widespread tradition throughout the Spanish-speaking world where burning effigies serves as a form of public expression regarding controversial figures. While potentially jarring to those unfamiliar with the cultural context, locals view these ceremonies as normal expressions of collective sentiment.
The targeting of international figures like Trump represents a shift from the tradition’s historical focus on local villains or biblical characters. In modern times, the festival has evolved to include global personalities who have generated significant controversy or whose actions the community views as worthy of symbolic judgment. Despite its theatrical and provocative nature, participants generally consider the festival a cultural tradition rather than an explicitly political statement—though the selection of subjects inevitably reflects prevailing local attitudes toward public figures and current events.
