As head-scratchers go, the appeal of Donald Trump to a large segment of the Christian faith is truly puzzling. While it shouldn’t surprise me, I still find it fascinating. That there is some hypocrisy in religion is perhaps understandable, but Donald Trump? I mean if ever there was an anti-Christ, he checks all the boxes. While we can’t see horns (he has them filed daily when they attach his hair), and he keeps his pointy tail wrapped up in his Depends, the rest of his satanic persona is in full view. His brimstone scented after shave is also a clue.
First, it is my observation that there are “true believers” who follow and practice what they preach in terms of their chosen flavor of Christianity. These are mostly well intentioned folks who may be swayed by deception and false prophets.
Secondly, there are many “Convenient Christians” who only use the pretense of religious piety when it suits them. For many in this latter category, Christianity is their Trump card (pardon the association) when logic and facts are running against what they want to believe. The thing I can’t explain, however, is that there are MAGA-Trump diehards in both groups.
I am restricting my comments to Christianity here as it is the religion with which I have the most experience. I can assume other faiths will have their hypocrites as well. One of the more useful tools within the Christian arsenal is the simple test, WWJD, or What Would Jesus Do. When faced with a decision of consequence, Christians can ask that simple question to find guidance. It is here that I use the Jesus 12.0 analogy. This is like Windows 11 or Mac OS 26 as a reference to the most current version. I will assume here that there have been at least eleven previous versions of Jesus where the answer to the WWJD question would get different responses. The number assignment is figurative and has no other meaning.
If you back a Convenient Christian into an ethical corner where facts and logic, no matter how twisted, don’t support their position, you will likely hear some iteration of, “Well, I’m a Christian and that’s what I believe.” It is the end of all discussion. It is like when your mother said, “Because I said so.” It is here that Christian nationalism rears its political head as something other than a religious concept.
For Christians, to align themselves with the patently amoral Donald Trump, is to twist and tie their core beliefs into a Gordian Knot. If I had said he was immoral it would have inferred that he knowingly acts against moral principles, but Trump is amoral as he is without morals or any sense of right and wrong.
Examples of his deviancy and acceptance abound. It was that deeply evangelical Christian and widely acclaimed champion of moral virtue, House Speaker Mike Johnson, who chose to attend the New York city trial of Donald Trump the day of Stormy Daniels’ testimony. Donald Trump was before the court charged with 34 felonies related to hush money payments made to keep secret the porn star Ms. Daniels’ tryst with Trump in a Lake Tahoe hotel room. Mike Johnson told the press, “President Trump has done nothing wrong.”
Given the proximity of the hush money trial one can assume Mike Johnson was referencing that case and not the previous one where Trump was convicted of sexual abuse and defamation of E. Jean Carroll. I would imagine his proclamation would fit either example of depravity.
“We love you, Jesus, and we also love our country. And we thank you that you have raised up a man, Donald J. Trump, to be a warrior for the word of God and the wisdom that comes from God"--Jack Graham, Baptist minister.
The above quote is typical of the hypocrisy of the religious Right. I would say it betrays Christian morality, but this assumes there is such a thing anymore. I’m sure they can find justification somewhere within the malleable sacred text of a $60 Trump Bible. The interpretation depends on the interpreter so, let the cherry picking begin. It’s time to ride the enthusiastic wave of Trump’s new morality to advance personal agendas and to secure power and position at any cost.
The MAGA faithful are self-proclaimed champions of moral virtue and will tell all within earshot how they despise pornography, marriage equality, and reproductive freedom. They will, however, provide all sorts of latitude to explain away the sins of their new Messiah. It would seem even pedophilia is worthy of a free pass. I would imagine that the Epstein files are being moved to an undisclosed warehouse alongside Jimmy Hoffa’s body and the Ark of the Covenant. While there has been no release of proof of active participation by the chosen one in the rape of minors, his association with and open support of individuals who have been tried and convicted of such acts, should be condemned.
That he continues to support Ghislaine Maxwell, even suggesting a full pardon, should be a “bridge too far.” What does she know that has the man out on a limb with a saw? Why would he risk even the perception of supporting a convicted pedophile? He certainly won’t be able to claim that he doesn’t know her. He has already used that one with the pardon of Changpeng Zhao, the convicted money launderer with significant Trump family business ties.
No, I will forever find conflict with the evangelical adoration of Donald Trump. The Christian brand will be forever tainted with the moral dirt cloud emanating from this Pigpen-like character. While Jesus 1.0 promoted love of fellow man, this new Messiah spews hate. He mocks the disabled. He is prejudiced against immigrants of all kind calling them animals and vermin. He will, however, grant exceptions for beautiful immigrant females or any immigrant who is wealthy and willing to “spread the wealth” in his direction. He has committed sexual assaults without remorse. He seeks revenge and retribution on his proclaimed enemies and virtually anyone who disagrees with him or gets in his way.
I, for one, like the old Jesus 1.0 and wouldn’t mind having a beer or glass of wine with him. This new Messiah that many of the Religious Right now follow, should take a walk due east from Mar a Lago. I assume he can still walk on water.
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