Image via YouTube/Twitter/Rhea Butcher

The rapture might really be coming now

While visiting Alabama yesterday in the aftermath of the devastating tornado destruction, Donald Trump stopped by a local Baptist church. And, since this is Trump we’re talking about here, of course the visit couldn’t be stoic and supportive or even remotely normal. Nope. He decided to sign a few Bibles while he was there.

HE. AUTOGRAPHED. THE. BIBLE. Several of them, in fact.

President Trump signed Bibles today while visiting Beauregard, Alabama —a community devastated by two deadly tornadoes. pic.twitter.com/dueCFABJMh — Rachel Scott (@rachelvscott) March 8, 2019

Signing books is a totally normal thing to do — if you’re the author of them. Donald Trump, uh, did not write the Bible. So it’s more than a little odd, yet somehow completely in character for someone like him.

The community of Opelika, Alabama, has mobilized in the wake of the terrifying EF-4 tornado that struck rural Beauregard last weekend. The tornado is responsible for the deaths of 23 people — it’s the deadliest tornado to hit the U.S. since 2013.

It makes sense that the President of the United States would pay a visit to an area that is now in crisis after a natural disaster. What does not make sense, not one lick of sense, is why Trump would grab a couple of Bibles and a Sharpie and go to town on them. And can we please talk about how he signed the cover? THE COVER.

The crowd cheering when President Trump took a picture with Gatlin, a 12 year old who has been volunteering at Providence Church all week. The President also signed some bibles. pic.twitter.com/CTOsFQhlOZ — Sally Pitts (@SallyPitts_WSFA) March 8, 2019

To be fair, someone did ask him to autograph their copy. But he just kept right on going with it.

Naturally, the internet exploded over this because come on — how could you not react? It’s absurd, at the very least, and utterly sacrilegious at worst.

In Trump’s defense, he wrote as much of the Bible as “Art of The Deal” https://t.co/BsR6pTkaxK — Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) March 8, 2019

Did he run out of paper towels https://t.co/KfGFS93atr — Emily Brandwin (@CIAspygirl) March 8, 2019

As if we could forget the downright dastardly move of Trump’s when he visited Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. The hurricane claimed more than 4,000 American lives and he couldn’t even be bothered to do more than make a half-assed attempt at tossing some paper towels.

Don the Baptist’s bible signature is the same as the one on the check he signed to quiet porn star he nailed while his wife was preggers. https://t.co/lunngUjtrR — Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) March 9, 2019

People don't understand the purpose of Trump signing bibles. Many people are without a way to prepare food after a disaster. When Trump signs a bible, it bursts into flame and people can cook over it. https://t.co/k8fkKyzZQB — Bill Prady (@billprady) March 8, 2019

Donald J. Trump is signing Bibles. The man whose vicious and inhumane border policy violates the fundamental teachings of Jesus is signing Bibles. — Peter Daou (@peterdaou) March 8, 2019

This is maybe the best metaphor for how white Evangelicals have been corrupted by lust for power and completely eschewed any semblance of core Christianity. And I say that as a native Alabamian and ex-Southern Baptist. https://t.co/UW70W2ugOl — Elizabeth Spiers (@espiers) March 8, 2019

The fact that Donald Trump can autograph bibles and not get immediately struck by lightning is exactly the proof I need that god does not exist. — Ward Q. Normal (@WardQNormal) March 8, 2019

After signing Bibles for Alabama tornado survivors President Trump signed limited edition paintings pic.twitter.com/URv5LV3Txp — Denlesks (@Denlesks) March 9, 2019

Who had “Trump signs military bibles at tragedy site” on their bingo cards — rhea butcher (@RheaButcher) March 9, 2019

Donald Trump signing bibles is like Hannibal Lecter signing cookbooks. — Adam Best (@adamcbest) March 8, 2019

Autographing Bibles is not okay, is it? Maybe they think he wrote it. Hell, maybe HE thinks he wrote it. https://t.co/UUS2LMSDQx — Lizanne (@AnneThrelkeld1) March 8, 2019

Southern historian Wayne Flynt, a Baptist deacon and Auburn University professor emeritus, tells that signing a Bible is “right next to sacrilege. That’s a holy book,” he says. Flynt also said he wasn’t surprised Trump would autograph a Bible because “there is nothing that shames the president.”

The people that gathered to greet him in the church didn’t seem to mind, however. Many of them cheered as he defaced the cover of their holy book with his odd, squiggly signature that looks more like the design of Charlie Brown’s sweater than it does actual letters in the English language.

While he was there, he also spent some time autographing other items, like hats and, for whatever reason, $100 bills.

Personally, the Bible doesn’t carry any spiritual or religious meaning to me. I can appreciate it as a historical document, and I can say I find it interesting overall. But even I, heathen and agnostic that I am, can recognize the absurdity at play here. This right here would make my Presbyterian church deacon grandmother clutch her pearls on sight.

But it’s just another day in this warped reality, isn’t it?