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It’s not every day that hobbies lead to national attention and acclaim. However, that is exactly the case for Grand View University Assistant Professor of History Thomas Lecaque, who recently had an article published in The Washington Post. He has an interest in the religious history of the early crusades, specifically apocalypticism, and writes regularly on the topic partly for cathartic reasons.

He wrote an article on the apocalyptic myth called the “Last World Emperor,” described by Lecaque as the myth of a “King in the Davidic model who will be flawed but will come in a time of crisis to restore the power and prestige of a Christian Empire.”

The idea for the article came to him when he started to notice events surrounding the white Evangelical voter support of President Donald Trump that seemed to fit the narrative of the myth. Specifically, when in a joint speech between President Trump and Italian President, Sergio Mattarella, the presidents discussed the United States and Italy as having a “shared set of culture and values.” He saw a connection to the myth.

“It just struck me, and I thought why not write a draft?” Lecaque said.

He did, however, concede that he does not believe that all Trump supporters believe in this myth or that they are even aware of it.

“I’m not arguing that every single Christian who supports the Trump administration is viewing this through an apocalyptic lens and thinks of him as this flawed apocalyptic hero that is here to bring about the end times, but I am saying that they are out there,” Lecaque said.

After sending his draft to the Washington Post editor Jacob Brogan, Lecaque was told the Post liked his piece but was just waiting for the right time to put his words to print

Shortly thereafter, Energy Secretary Rick Perry discussed in an interview on the show “Fox and Friends” that “God has used imperfect people all throughout history” and that he saw President Trump as “the chosen one.”

The similarities between events and the myth became too much to ignore.

“It was the perfect hook,” Lecaque said. “I changed a couple of things around, sent it to him, and it was out the next morning.”

The article titled “The apocalyptic myth that helps explain evangelical support for Trump” was published on November 26, 2019.

It became an instant success for the Post, with over 80,000 views in just the first 48 hours of being published. It created enough of a buzz that numerous news outlets reached out to Lecaque for interviews. His demand was as far-reaching as Australian National Radio. One of his favorites was being a guest of a theology-themed podcast.

“It’s bemusing; as a medieval historian I don’t get contacted for interviews all that often,” Lecaque said.

He mentioned most of the work he has done has been circulated in a small-knit group of historians or in scholarly articles.

However, not everyone was surprised that Lecaque was able to have an article published in the Post. When asked of his reaction to one of his peers being published in a national newspaper, fellow history professor and the Director of GV Center for Excellence, Kevin Gannon, said he was not shocked at all.

“I know he’s got a lot to say about his subject,” Gannon said. “I think the impressive part is coming up with something quickly enough that would be relevant to publish. If you’re publishing something in the Washington Post, it’s got to be relevant to that days news.”

Lecaque’s students shared similar sentiments.

“When Dr. Lecaque told me he’d been published in the Washington Post, I was ecstatic,” said GV history student Caitlyn Malloy. “I felt like this was such a rewarding experience for him. I think to be published in a national newspaper for all the world to see is such a daunting thing and in that aspect, I think that he wrote fearlessly and with the intent to educate. Overall, I was just so excited to have one of my favorite professors be nationally published.”

This may not be the end of Lecaque’s publishing career. It’s possible there are more articles coming from the GV professor.

“I’d like to hope that I will be published in the Washington Post again, it’s a really great experience,” said Lecaque. “I have a feeling that this same theme I keep writing on, I will have more opportunities.”