Jon McNaughton

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“”Over 240 years ago George Washington suffered through Valley Forge and crossed the Delaware River to bring an astonishing victory to the Continental Army. [...] Today, Trump endeavors to cross the “swamp” of Washington DC as he carries the light of truth, hope, and prosperity. The murky water of the deep state is laced with dangerous vermin, perfectly willing to destroy American prosperity for their personal ideologies and financial gain. The establishment Democrats, Never-Trumper-Republicans, Deep State, and Fake News Media will do all they can to stop the majority of the American people from succeeding.
—Product description for "Crossing the Swamp"[1]
God, guns, and freedom
U.S. Politics
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Starting arguments over Thanksgiving dinner
Persons of interest
v - t - e

Jon McNaughton is an artist living in Utah. Having received a BFA from Brigham Young University, he has been painting for 25 years. [2] Since 2009, he has churned out absurd paintings depicting the Founding Fathers as devout Christians, several paintings highly critical of Barack Obama,[3] and several paintings about his newest theme, glorifying President Trump.[4]

Through his website, he sells original paintings, giclée prints (frame optional), and t-shirts.[5]

The real tragedy here is that McNaughton is actually a fairly talented artist. It's just that he also happens to be a crazy person.

Paintings[edit]

“ American Solider: Represents the modern American soldier. With "King" written on his body armour, he also fills in for Martin Luther King Jr., because we can't have two black guys standing next to each other. That'd be a mob. ”

—A slightly different take on McNaughton's One Nation Under God.[6]

Mr. McNaughton's website helpfully explains every last scrap of symbolism in his artwork, leaving nothing to chance or interpretation. His most famous is perhaps One Nation Under God, depicting Jesus surrounded by a range of patriotic figures and liberal bogeymen, along with some figures representing real Americans.[7] This spawned its own parody, entitled One Nation Under Cthulu, which does exactly as it says on the tin[8] and a rewording of McNaughton's "interpretation", which takes a far sharper tone against the conservative sentiment of the original.[6]

Mr. McNaughton's "Patriotic" art is of a "libertarian" bent. His paintings, The Forgotten Man and The Empowered Man, associate Barack Obama with a number of American presidents McNaughton believes hurt the US through out-of-control spending and stifling regulation. Opposing this group of scoundrels are the heroes McNaughton imagines to be true patriot Christians. Oddly, this latter group includes Thomas Jefferson, who was so devout, he removed the miracles from the gospels.[9]

After hyping it up as "the one painting that says it all" on his Facebook page, and dropping hints and small samples of it, he eventually released Obamanation, which was over-the-top even by McNaughton's own standards, so full of unrelated objects and persons as to be surreal.[10] Given his bent, it’s hardly a surprise that McNaughton is a Trump supporter who decided to celebrate Trump’s election by updating The Forgotten Man by creating paintings, You Are Not Forgotten,[11] a painting so over the top that even McNaughton himself wrote in his description: “When I decided to paint this picture, I wondered if this was taking it too far.“[11] Introspection? Not really, as McNaughton immediately went on to: “But, sometimes you have to speak forcefully, like the brushstrokes of my painting.”[11] And he further gleefully cheered his vision of Trump as a strongman POTUS when explaining the ham-handed imagery of Trump stomping on a snake: “I want a president that will crush the enemies of liberty, justice, and American prosperity. They may have the power to bruise his heel, but he will have the power to crush their head!”[11]

The most blatantly partisan painting is One Nation Under Socialism, a depiction of President Obama burning the Constitution.[12]

Also noteworthy (in hindsight) is the imagery of McNaughton’s is Obama’s Foreign Policy[13] which features a golf-playing POTUS against a backdrop of “fire & fury” — hmmm..., now who does that remind you of...?

Aside from glorified political cartoons, Mr. McNaughton produces pleasant landscapes and "uplifting" religious art. It is possible he uses his more controversial paintings for publicity.

Patronage, or lack thereof[edit]

After inviting Mr. McNaughton onto his show to discuss One Nation Under Socialism, Sean Hannity decided to buy the original painting for six figures.[14]

McNaughton's One Nation Under God was removed from the bookstore at his alma mater, Brigham Young University. McNaughton assumed something was wrong with the people he made uncomfortable rather than admit his artwork was seriously over the top.[15]

Political views[edit]

Jon McNaughton maintains a blog, where he proudly talks about his art. His paintings are about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the knee, but McNaughton feels the need to explain his politics anyway.

Gallery of wingnuttery[edit]

On Obama[edit]

  • "One Nation Under Socialism"

  • "Obama Foreign Policy"

  • "Obamanation"
    (Yes, that's the real title.)

  • "The Forgotten Man"

  • "The Demise of America"

  • "Wake Up America" (Again, real title)

Hail to the real president![edit]

  • "You Are Not Forgotten" (Contrast!)

  • "Teach a Man to Fish"

  • "Respect the Flag"

  • "Make America Safe"

  • "Expose the Truth"

  • "Crossing the Swamp"

  • "National Emergency"

  • "All-American Trump"

  • "The Choice". I don' wanna wear mask.

Make America Jesus Again[edit]

  • "Washington's Prayer"

  • "Separation of Church and State"

  • "One Nation Under God"

  • "Angel of Liberty—The Vision of George Washington"

  • "Lincoln's Prayer"

Other political paintings[edit]

  • "The Con-Artist"

  • "Andrew Breitbart—No Fear"

  • "The Impeachment Mob" (also comes with a hilarious poem)[20]

  • "The Resistance" (This one's actually disgusting for its cynical appropriation of a genuine historical atrocity. But Antifa bad.)

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Crossing the Swamp McNaughton Fine Art Company
  2. ↑ One Nation Under God, the Video!.
  3. ↑ McNaugton Fine Art's Patriotic Gallery. See for yourself.
  4. ↑ McNaugton Fine Art's Americana Gallery
  5. ↑ McNaughton Gift Shop, Nothing more American that that.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Short Packed - One Nation Under God (rewording)
  7. ↑ One Nation Under God. Yes, he thinks the US Constitution was "inspired by God".
  8. ↑ One Nation Under Cthulu
  9. ↑ The Forgotten Man. It's a Miracle! FDR can walk!.
  10. ↑ McNaughton Art - Obamanation
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 You Are Not Forgotten
  12. ↑ One Nation Under Socialism. So much for subtlety.
  13. ↑ Obama’s Foreign Policy
  14. ↑ Sean Hannity Breaks the Bank for Insane Anti-Obama Painting, It seems money can't buy good taste.
  15. ↑ Artist Jon McNaughton pulls political, religious art from BYU Bookstore, Deseret News, April 27 2011
  16. ↑ Blog entry 4.12.2012, From McNaughton's blog.
  17. ↑ Blog Entry 4.08.2012, McNaughton's Blog.
  18. ↑ Blog entry 5.15.2012, McNaughton's blog.
  19. ↑ Blog entry 11.11.2012, McNaughton's blog.
  20. ↑ The Impeachment Mob. McNaughton Fine Art.
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