Jon McNaughton

{{cquote|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"<ref>[http://jonmcnaughton.com/crossing-the-swamp-10x15-litho/ Crossing the Swamp] McNaughton Fine Art Company</ref>}}
{{uspolitics}}
'''Jon McNaughton''' is an artist living in [[Utah]]. Having received a BFA from [[Brigham Young University]], he has been [[Art|painting]] for 25 years. <ref name="onug-yt">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VUo8OuFaiI ''One Nation Under God''], the Video!.</ref> Since 2009, he has churned out absurd paintings depicting the [[Founding Fathers]] as [[The United States as a Christian nation|devout Christians]], several paintings highly critical of [[Barack Obama]],<ref name="McNaughtonPatriotic">[http://www.jonmcnaughton.com/patriotic/ McNaugton Fine Art's Patriotic Gallery]. See for yourself.</ref> and several paintings about his newest theme, glorifying President [[Donald Trump|Trump]].<ref>[http://jonmcnaughton.com/patriotic/americana/ McNaugton Fine Art's Americana Gallery]</ref>

Through his website, he sells original paintings, giclée prints (frame optional), and t-shirts.<ref name="tees">[http://www.jonmcnaughton.com/gift-shop/ McNaughton Gift Shop], Nothing more American that that.</ref>

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

== Paintings ==

{{rquote|right|American Solider: Represents the modern American soldier. With "King" written on his body armour, he also fills in for Martin Luther King Jr., [[Racism|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''.<ref name="rewording" />}}

Mr. McNaughton's website helpfully explains every last scrap of symbolism in his artwork, leaving nothing to chance or [[Heresy|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 [[stereotype|real]] Americans.<ref name="onug">[http://www.jonmcnaughton.com/one-nation-under-god-2/ ''One Nation Under God'']. Yes, he thinks the US Constitution was "inspired by God".</ref> This spawned its own parody, entitled ''One Nation Under Cthulu'', which does exactly as it says on the tin<ref>[http://pics.blameitonthevoices.com/102009/small_one%20nation%20under%20chtulu.jpg One Nation Under Cthulu]</ref> and a rewording of McNaughton's "interpretation", which takes a far sharper tone against the conservative sentiment of the original.<ref name="rewording">[http://www.shortpacked.com/McNaughton%20Fine%20Art.htm Short Packed - One Nation Under God (rewording)]</ref>

Mr. McNaughton's "Patriotic" art is of a [[Tea Party movement|"libertarian"]] bent. His paintings, ''The Forgotten Man'' and ''The Empowered Man'', associate Barack Obama with a number of American presidents McNaughton believes hurt the [[United States|US]] through out-of-control spending and stifling regulation. Opposing this group of scoundrels are the heroes McNaughton imagines to be true patriot [[Christian|Christians]]. Oddly, this latter group includes [[Thomas Jefferson]], who was so devout, he [[Jefferson Bible|removed the miracles from the gospels]].<ref name=ForgottenMan>[http://www.jonmcnaughton.com/the-forgotten-man-1/ ''The Forgotten Man'']. It's a Miracle! FDR can ''walk!''.</ref> 

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.<ref>[http://www.jonmcnaughton.com/obamanation-1/ McNaughton Art - Obamanation]</ref> 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'',<ref name=YouAreNotForgotten>[http://jonmcnaughton.com/patriotic/you-are-not-forgotten/ ''You Are Not Forgotten'']</ref> 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.“<ref name=YouAreNotForgotten/> Introspection? Not really, as McNaughton immediately went on to: “But, sometimes you have to speak forcefully, like the brushstrokes of my painting.”<ref name=YouAreNotForgotten/> And he further gleefully cheered his vision of Trump as a [[Authoritarianism|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!”<ref name=YouAreNotForgotten/>

The most blatantly partisan painting is ''One Nation Under Socialism'', a depiction of President Obama burning the [[US Constitution|Constitution]].<ref name="ONUS">[http://www.jonmcnaughton.com/one-nation-under-socialism-1/ ''One Nation Under Socialism''.] So much for subtlety.</ref>

Also noteworthy (in hindsight) is the imagery of McNaughton’s is ''Obama’s Foreign Policy''<ref>[http://jonmcnaughton.com/patriotic/obama-foreign-policy/ ''Obama’s Foreign Policy'']</ref> which features a golf-playing POTUS against a backdrop of “fire & fury” — [[Donald Trump|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 [[Advertising|publicity]].

== Patronage, or lack thereof ==
After inviting Mr. McNaughton onto his show to discuss ''One Nation Under Socialism'', [[Sean Hannity]] decided to buy the original painting for six figures.<ref name="natmemo">[http://www.nationalmemo.com/sean-hannity-breaks-the-bank-for-insane-anti-obama-painting/ Sean Hannity Breaks the Bank for Insane Anti-Obama Painting], It seems money ''can't'' buy good taste.</ref>

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.<ref name="BYU+Bookstore">[http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700130700/Artist-Jon-McNaughton-pulls-political-religious-art-from-BYU-Bookstore.html?pg=1 Artist Jon McNaughton pulls political, religious art from BYU Bookstore], Deseret News, April 27 2011</ref>

== Political views ==
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.
*He supports [[Ron Paul]], wanting to return to the [[good old days]]. In the election, he voted for [[Mitt Romney]], for reasons he does not care to discuss.<ref name="Paul or Romney">[http://blog.jonmcnaughton.com/ron-paul-or-mitt-romney/ Blog entry 4.12.2012], From McNaughton's blog.</ref>
*He knows what a [[True Christian]] is.<ref name="TC">[http://blog.jonmcnaughton.com/what-is-a-true-christian-2/ Blog Entry 4.08.2012], McNaughton's Blog.</ref>
*His work is ''[[Poe's Law|not]]'' satire.<ref name="Subtlety or Satire">[http://blog.jonmcnaughton.com/is-it-subtelty-or-satire/ Blog entry 5.15.2012], McNaughton's blog.</ref>
*He definitely doesn't live in reality; believing that Obama was sort-of responsible for an [[2012 Benghazi attack|embassy attack]] and ran a "[[deceit]]ful campaign".<ref name="Prayers">[http://blog.jonmcnaughton.com/were-your-prayers-unanswered/ Blog entry 11.11.2012], McNaughton's blog.</ref>

==Gallery of wingnuttery==
===On Obama===
<gallery widths=200px heights=225px>
File:One Nation Under Socialism.jpeg|"One Nation Under Socialism"
File:Obama Foreign Policy.jpeg|"Obama Foreign Policy"
File:Obamanation painting.jpeg|"Obamanation"<br> (Yes, that's the real title.)
File:The Forgotten Man.jpeg|"The Forgotten Man"
File:The Demise of America.jpeg|"The Demise of America"
File:Wake Up America.jpeg|"[[Wake up|Wake Up]] America" (Again, real title)
</gallery>

===Hail to the ''real'' president!===
<gallery widths=200px heights=225px>
File:You Are Not Forgotten.jpeg|"You Are Not Forgotten" (Contrast!)
File:Teach a Man to Fish.jpeg|"Teach a Man to Fish"
File:Respect the Flag McNaughton.jpeg|"Respect the Flag"
File:Make America Safe McNaughton.jpeg|"Make America Safe" 
File:Expose the Truth McNaughton.jpeg|"Expose the Truth"
File:Crossing the Swamp.jpeg|"Crossing the Swamp"
File:McNaughton National Emergency.jpeg|"National Emergency"
File:McNaughton All American Trump.jpeg|"All-American Trump"
File:Jon McNaughton the Choice.jpeg|"The Choice". I don' wanna wear mask.
</gallery>

===Make America Jesus Again===
<gallery widths=200px heights=225px>
File:Washington's Prayer.jpeg|"Washington's Prayer"
File:Separation of Church and State McNaughton.jpeg|"Separation of Church and State"
File:One Nation Under God McNaughton.jpeg|"One Nation Under God"
File:Angel of Liberty Washington.jpeg|"Angel of Liberty—The Vision of George Washington"
File:McNaughton Lincoln's Prayer.jpeg|"Lincoln's Prayer"
</gallery>

===Other political paintings===
<gallery widths=200px heights=225px>
File:Hillary Con Artist.jpeg|"The Con-Artist"
File:Breitbart No Fear.jpeg|"Andrew Breitbart—No Fear"
File:Jon McNaughton Impeachment Mob.jpeg|"The Impeachment Mob" (also comes with a hilarious poem)<ref>[https://jonmcnaughton.com/the-impeachment-mob-16x20-canvas-giclee-limited-edition-s-n-edition-100/ The Impeachment Mob]. ''McNaughton Fine Art.''</ref>
File:Jon McNaughton The Resistance.jpeg|"The Resistance" (This one's actually disgusting for its cynical appropriation of a genuine [[Napoleon_Bonaparte#The_Peninsular_War|historical atrocity]]. But [[Antifa]] bad.)
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[Demonization]]
*[[Dominionism]]
*[[Fundamentalism]]
*[[Theodemocracy]]

== External links ==
*[http://www.jonmcnaughton.com/ McNaughton Fine Art] McNaughton's website
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/McNaughton%20Fine%20Art.htm A different interpretation of ''One Nation Under God''] 
*[http://omglog.com/thomas/archives/4083 ''One Nation Under Cthulu'']
*[http://www.alexrosscollector.com/2012/04/2009-political-portfolio.html Lithographs that would send McNaughton's admirers into fits]
*[http://religionandpolitics.org/2012/07/25/the-tea-partys-painter-the-art-of-jon-mcnaughton/ The Art of Jon McNaughton, The Tea Party's Painter]

==References==

{{reflist|2|90%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McNaughton, Jon}}
[[Category:Mormons]]
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Categories: Mormons, Artists, Conspiracy theorists, Fundamentalism, Living people