Imagine driving through the heart of Tel Aviv or Jerusalem and spotting a towering billboard declaring President Donald Trump as the modern reincarnation of a 6th-century BC Persian ruler, as the Daily Mail reports.
Across Israel, giant displays featuring Trump’s image alongside the phrase “Cyrus the Great is alive!” have sparked conversation, tying the U.S. leader to the historic figure who reshaped Jewish history, brokered a groundbreaking peace deal in Gaza, and addressed the Israeli parliament with promises of a new era.
Let’s rewind to ancient times for context. Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire in the 6th century BC, conquered Babylon in 539 BC, liberating the Jewish elite who had been exiled by the Babylonians after the destruction of Solomon’s Temple. His decree allowed their return to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of their sacred site.
Cyrus, presiding over the sprawling Achaemenid dynasty, ruled a multi-faith, multi-racial empire of over two million square miles, proclaiming himself “king of the four corners of the world” in the famous Cyrus Cylinder, now housed in the British Museum. His legacy, etched in history and scripture like the Books of Ezra and Isaiah in the Old Testament, paints him as an unlikely savior for the Jewish people.
Fast forward to 2018, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew the first parallel, thanking Trump for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “Mr. President, this will be remembered by our people through the ages,” Netanyahu said during an Oval Office meeting, echoing the gratitude once reserved for Cyrus.
Trump didn’t stop there. He moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, brokered the Abraham Accords to normalize ties between Israel and several Arab states, and now, in a historic move, has negotiated an end to the war in Gaza. That’s a resume even a Persian king might envy.
Today, the Friends of Zion Museum, based in Jerusalem, has taken this comparison to new heights with billboards plastering Trump’s face across major Israeli cities. The imagery isn’t subtle, and neither is the message: Trump, like Cyrus, is a game-changer for the Jewish state.
This comes as Israeli hostages, held for 738 harrowing days by Hamas terrorists, were reunited with their families in Jerusalem, a direct result of Trump’s diplomatic efforts. If that’s not a biblical-level deliverance, what is? Let’s just hope the progressive crowd doesn’t try to cancel this as “problematic appropriation.”
Trump himself flew to Jerusalem to address the Israeli parliament, calling the Gaza deal a “historic dawn of a new Middle East.” That’s bold, but when you’ve just pulled off what many deemed impossible, a little swagger seems warranted.
Dr. Mike Evans, in a widely read opinion piece for outlets like the Jerusalem Post, doubled down on the Cyrus analogy. “In 2025, President Trump has played that same role... When the world doubted, he delivered,” Evans wrote, pointing to Trump’s string of wins for Israel from embassy moves to peace accords.
Scripture itself seems to back this up, with Isaiah Chapter 45 calling Cyrus “my anointed king,” chosen for the good of Israel. One wonders if Trump’s team has this framed somewhere in the Oval Office for inspiration.
Even Trump’s own words, though unrelated to Israel, carry a regal tone. His Truth Social post earlier this year, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” shows a man unafraid to claim a crown, metaphorically speaking.
Of course, Cyrus met his end in battle around 530 BC, a fate we trust Trump won’t share. But the parallel of an outsider reshaping history for a beleaguered people holds firm.
Netanyahu’s earlier praise, alongside these billboards, suggests Israel sees Trump as a protector in a world often hostile to its existence.
While some might scoff at the comparison, dismissing it as political theater, the gratitude from a nation under constant threat feels genuine. And in an era of endless woke critiques, isn’t it refreshing to see appreciation for decisive action?
