Donald Trump has called on Christian voters to participate in the 2024 election on Monday, positioning himself as a defender of religious freedoms, according to the Guardian.
Speaking at an “11th-Hour Faith Leaders Meeting” in North Carolina, Trump warned that a government led by Kamala Harris would restrict the rights of Christians and framed the election as a spiritual issue.
Several conservative pastors addressed the crowd before Trump took the stage. Guillermo Maldonado, a longtime ally and self-proclaimed “apostle,” described the election as a spiritual battle, saying, “We’re now in spiritual warfare. It’s beyond left and right; it’s between good and evil. There’s a big fight right now, and we need to take back our country.”
Ben Carson, the 2024 campaign’s National Faith Chairman, echoed this sentiment, rejecting the idea of a secular society. “This election is about whether we remain one nation under God or become a secular nation,” Carson said, aligning himself with Christian nationalists who believe America must return to its religious roots.
Carson was singled out by Trump, who recalled how Carson had told him in 2016 that God had chosen him to be the next US president. Trump also accused the FBI of sending “spies” into Catholic churches, claiming that Democrats view Catholics as potential domestic terrorists, though he provided no evidence to support this.
Trump, in his speech, recounted the assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, that he claimed strengthened his faith. “My faith took on new meaning on July 13, when I was knocked to the ground, seemingly by a supernatural hand,” Trump said. He suggested that God had saved him for a higher purpose, which was to lead America to greatness.
He also urged Christians to vote, lamenting that they historically do not vote in proportion to their numbers. “Christians, evangelicals… gun owners – they don’t vote,” Trump said, pledging to repeal the Johnson Amendment, which prevents churches from endorsing political candidates.
Support for Israel and gender issues
Trump highlighted his past decision to relocate the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a move condemned by world leaders but celebrated by many evangelicals who view Israel as central to biblical prophecy. “We did what many didn’t want me to do,” Trump said, portraying his decision as a stand against global opposition.
He also addressed cultural and gender issues, promising to take action against what he described as the “toxic poison” of gender ideology. “We will reaffirm that God created two genders: male and female,” Trump said, appealing to his conservative base.
Earlier, Eric Trump, who co-hosted the event, emphasised his father’s role as a protector of religious liberty, claiming there has been a “war against God” under the current and previous administrations. He assured listeners that “the hand of God” was guiding his father’s actions, even recounting how an angel supposedly saved Trump from the assassination attempt in Butler.
Christian nationalists and the ReAwaken America movement
Eric Trump also revealed that the North Carolina faith leaders meeting had been inspired by Clay Clark, co-founder of the ReAwaken America tour. This tour, featuring a mix of pro-Trump conspiracy theorists and charismatic Christian preachers, has gained a following among those who believe in modern-day prophets and see Trump as a divinely appointed leader.
The event further showcased Trump’s close ties to figures in the New Apostolic Reformation, a Christian movement aiming to exert dominion over society and government.
The presence of these leaders, some of whom openly predict civil unrest and condemn Harris as a practitioner of “witchcraft,” has raised concerns about the influence of extreme religious views on Trump’s campaign.
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