The TV evangelist Paula White-Cain was all bedecked with sparkles to pray for Donald Trump, winning the president’s praise, for which he enjoyed a stunning comparison to the son of god

Deep in prayer: Paula White-Cain (in pink) praying for Donald Trump

At the White House Easter Lunch, held on April Fool’s Day, it was easy to mistake the prayerful proceedings for an elaborate joke. On stage, behind the rostrum fronted by a gold eagle, pastors, reportedly from different denominations, took their turn to pray for what a federal judge recently called the “Steward of the White House”, Donald Trump. The solemnity of the event of “a very holy week” was amplified by the glamorous appearance of Mr Trump’s so-called “personal spiritual advisor”, Paula White-Cain, a televangelist who mistakes bathing in the glare of her own spotlight for wearing a halo. Ms White-Cain attended the event in full State Dinner splendour. The pale pink, ankle-length dress was from the bespoke gown-maker Inna’s Designs. It was an almighty-approved choice that aligned with the Prosperity Gospel that Ms White-Cain fervently preaches, with a hemline that stopped just short of humility and a price tag—likely underwritten by the aspirational investments of those in challenging circumstances—that started well beyond salvation

Inna’s Designs is the quintessential Prosperity Chic label. While not explicitly marketed as a political or MAGA brand, it has gained significant visibility within conservative circles due to its high-profile clientele. The label often showcases its work at high-society venues associated with the Trump family and their inner circle, such as Mar-a-Lago. It was founded by immigrant Inna Rudenko, a Moldovan who moved to the U.S. in 2012 to pursue what she told the media as the “American Dream”. On her website, Ms Rudenko describes herself as “an award-winning couture designer with over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry.” Curiously, an award-winner only Floridians know. She also stated that she is “now based in Europe,” which is odd since it is known that her atelier is based in the appropriately named Lake Mary in Florida. She also said that she “graduated from a prestigious Art and Design School in Europe before honing her skills at an elite European wedding salon.” How “elite”, no one knows. Likewise, she did not identify the specific country in Europe where she received her education, although media reports have suggested Russia.

The label often showcases its work at high-society venues associated with the Trump family and their inner circle, such as Mar-a-Lago

Although ironies in the Trump administration are as delicious as a Big Mac on the Resolute Desk, we still can’t get enough of them. This time, of an immigrant pursuing the American dream by outfitting the leader of a movement that is increasingly isolationist and crusadic (if there’s such a word) in its rhetoric. Has ICE bothered with this one? Or does her association with the televangelist exempt her from potentially fatal harassment? Make her a dress that dazzles and one is free from the aggressive reaches of ICE. So for Ms White-Cain, it was high-octane day wear, a quarter bedecked, and designed specifically for the camera’s gaze: a body-skimming dress with a cape that was held up by a sheer, beaded yoke and the rest, in the same colour and fabric as the main number, gathered to look like half-drawn French café curtains in Palm Beach. It is a silhouette that is not particularly American, but more in line with those brands associated with Eastern Europe, or the now-troubled Middle East, such as Melania Trump’s previous go-to, the Lebanese designer Reem Acra, presently replaced by another well-loved immigrant Hervé Pierre. For Ms White-Cain, it’s the conspicuous uniform of a movement that believes the favor of the divine should speak in boutique invoices.

It looked to be a resume that the MAGA masses would appreciate. Regardless of the designer’s professional clout or religious leaning, this press release of a dress in silk (imported—so, too, the threads, the beads, the pearls, et al) served as the shimmering backdrop for the afternoon’s main event: a theological heist. As Ms White-Cain’s cape caught the glare of the gilt, she began the process of tailoring the new testament to fit the president’s legal measurements, culminating in a comparison to the son of god that was as technically sound as a bustier from Temu. But someone important was impressed by the vision of loveliness. Donald Trump praised her, saying she looked “actually nice”. That must have been like an Oscar win for Ms White-Cain. A sermon-dress to dazzle the faithful while sanctifying a White House temp. The flattery came from he who, moments earlier, admitted that he is easily won over by people who are “nice” to him, even if they are ”bad people”. He will even “fight to the end” for them. Such as Pam Bondi? Who knows?

Paula White-Cain applauds Donald Trump

But Ms White-Cain lapped it up and thank the president. Soon, allegedly guided by the holy spirit, she faced Mr Trump and prayed deeply, “I declared that everything you touch, you’ll have the favour of god. According to Luke 2:52, even if Jesus was favoured with both god and man, so let it be with president Trump.” People are now calling that blasphemy. But the Jesus avatar smiled his bozo smile and said, visibly delighted, “Thank you.” Quoting Luke 2:52 did not validate her comparison. That verse is about Christ’s growth in wisdom, maturity, and divine favour during his youth, not martyrdom. Using it to frame Trump’s legal troubles stretched the text beyond recognition. Easter, even non-believers know, is about about resurrection, yet she cherry-picked a verse about youthful growth to match her sycophantic urges. Combined with her charismatic gala gown, with which American Made was the slogan, but elite immigrant atelier was the reality, the citation turned into a staged sermon—fashion and scripture deployed as props in the unceasing theatre that is the big, beautiful, war-mongering Trump administration.

The exaltation of a political figure to a divine or messianic level can easily be taken down if one were to source from the bible as Ms White-Cain did. Religious leaders or their supporters may frame political authority as divinely sanctioned, the bible itself, conversely, tempers that idea with consistent warnings against pride and arrogance. There are more than a few versus that would be at odds with Ms White-Cain’s counsel. They prioritise humility, the dangers of political exaltation, and the true definition of spiritual success. No matter how her followers interprete her flair for framing political appointees as divinely favoured, the bible is not short of the corrective. Standouts are Proverbs 16:18—“pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” and James 4:6—“god opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.” It is not surprising if the president is ignorant of those verses, but his spiritual advisor’s avoidance of them is outrageous. Donald Trump’s demolition of the East Wing and the subsequent plan for a massive, 90,000-square-foot ballroom has largely been described as “brazen”. It is also brazen of Paula White-Cain comparing a head of state to the son of god and suggesting that god’s favor is automatically tied to status or position, rather than humility and righteousness. As can be seen in Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

Photos: paulamichellewhite/Instagram