Mel Gibson raised eyebrows last week by referring to the US president as ‘Daddy’, but the odd nickname is gaining support among Donald Trump’s MAGA base.

And the odd, paternalistic monicker appears to have a slightly creepy origin.

In a recent interview with Sean Hannity on the Murdoch-owned Fox News, Gibson said Trump’s visit to fire-affected Los Angeles was “like daddy arrived”.

“I’m glad Trump’s here at the moment,” he said. “It’s like daddy arrived and he’s taking his belt off, you know? So, I think he’ll get some results here quickly.”

The reference was lampooned by many, including TV talk show host Stephen Colbert, who told his audience it was “pretty weird to get that excited about a physically abusive father”.

But Gibson – who was last month named by Trump to join fellow actors Jon Voight and Syvester Stallone as a special ambassador to Hollywood – isn’t the just the latest in a host of conservative figures to affectionately call the President daddy.

Republican politicians Lauren Boebert and Byron Donalds, media personality Charlie Kirk, and even country rock rapper Kid Rock have all declared their excitement at having ‘daddy’ in the White House.

Hyping up Trump’s inauguration during an appearance on Fox News, Florida congressman Donalds went through a list of what he expects Trump to accomplish early in his administration.

“When Americans see deportations or repatriations happen, they’re gonna be like, ‘Thank you!’. When they see the border closed, they’re gonna say, ‘This is what I voted for’,” he declared.

Donalds predicted that Americans would not only express joy that Trump was back in office, but would also see him as their collective father.

“Daddy’s back!” he said excitedly. “And that’s what you’re going to see.”

Boebert, reacting to the cover of TIME magazine featuring Trump posted on X: “Daddy’s home!!”

Charlie Kirk, founder of the young conservative focused Turning Point USA, posted alongside the Trump official portrait: “Dad is home.”

MAGA rapper Tom MacDonald, whose latest effort is actually titled  Daddy’s Home, also features right-wing comedic actor Roseanne Barr ad-libbing some of her own thoughts.

“We won, you mad, it’s done, too bad, boo-hoo, so sad, now your daddy’s home,” MacDonald and Barr rap throughout the song.

“If you can’t handle all the facts and make up lies about it. Say goodbye to Joe, your daddy’s coming home,” they yell.

Kid Rock, meanwhile, added extra lyrics to MAGA anthem We the People during his pre-inauguration performance at Washington’s Capitol One Arena.

“Check the stats, stop throwin’ stones! Straighten up, sucker, ‘cuz daddy’s home!” Rock enthused.

Barr and MacDonald welcomed ‘daddy’ home in their rap. Photo: YouTube/Tom MacDonald

‘Bad little girl’

So where did the Trump paternal fixation originate?

It appears that right-wing commentator and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson first coined the phrase at a Turning Point USA event in October.

“Yeah, that’s right. Dad comes home. And he’s p–sed,” Tucker exclaimed during a frankly creepy speech to his youthful audience at the pre-election rally.

“And when dad gets home, you know what he says? ‘You’ve been a bad girl. You’ve been a bad little girl, and you’re getting a vigorous spanking right now. You’re getting a vigorous spanking because you’ve been a bad girl.’ And it has to be this way,” he said.