Donald Trump’s campaign continues to target Christians, blending theology and appeal to right-wing extremism. After launching the “Believers for Trump” program and after many calls with conservative ministers to mobilize congregations, on Monday the Republican candidate in North Carolina addressed all believers in Christ, Catholic and non-Catholic.
In Concord, the Republican candidate for the White House launched into a virulent invective against Democratic rival Kamala Harris, calling on U.S. Christians to “stand up and save the country”, because with a Harris win, they would risk losing religious freedom and freedom of expression.
A messianic Trump used a series of ominous statements. “You Christians, vote and convince everyone to vote. You must vote or we will not have the life we should have, a life of prosperity and hope, a life of beauty. We will not have it, we will fight for our lives” he said. “I don’t know how many Catholics are here, but if you’re Catholic, there is no way you can be voting for these people. These people are a nightmare. I don’t know what they have against Catholics, but Catholics are treated worse than anybody. So, and by the way, evangelicals are next. You can bet on it”.
A vote for Harris, he said, would mean that “your religious freedom will be gone, your free speech will be gone, your Second Amendment will be gone, and parental rights will be gone forever. So I’m here tonight to deliver a simple message to Christians across America. It’s time to stand up and save your country.”
Harris, he declared, “will force doctors and parents to allow sex changes and general mutilation of minor children. That’s what they do. So Christians, get everyone you know and vote. You have to vote or we’re not going to have the life that we should have. A life of prosperity and hope, a life of beauty. We’re not going to have it. We’re going to be fighting for our lives”.
He also expounded on the effect of God’s words on his personal life: “As I look back at my life’s journey and events, I now recognize that it’s been the hand of God leading me to where I am today.”
