On Trump For POTUS in 2020
I was previously quite cautious about Trump, but I am more supportive now. What changed?
Things certainly can change, and even go full circle! Four years ago I was losing friends, getting hated on, and being abused by many folks who claim to be on the same side because I expressed caution about Trump. Now I am losing friends, getting hated on, and being abused by many folks who claim to be on the same side because I express cautious support for Trump.
And of course my many enemies have for a while now been running with the baloney that I am some sort of hypocrite or worse, given my previous concerns about Trump. Moreover, some who are on side are also still angry with me. Well, I will never be able to please my many critics – be they onside or not.
But let me explain things for the sake of other readers here. Am I being inconsistent in my political views? Am I full of double standards? Am I just going with whatever political winds are blowing at the moment? I do not think so, and here is why:
Did I have very real concerns about Trump four years ago? I sure did, and for very good reasons. I and so many other Christians and conservatives had to assess the man as he was at the time, and as he had been. And for millions of us it seemed pretty clear back then that he was not a consistent, constitutional conservative.
Indeed, for much of his life he was not even a Republican. He supported the Democrats, he hobnobbed with the Clintons, he supported various liberal causes, his life was hardly an endorsement of biblical values, and he seemed to be a very poor choice – certainly before the nomination – when we had real deal conservatives and Christians such as Ted Cruz putting their hands up for the top job.
So those of us who were committed Christians and conservatives had every reason back then to be very concerned indeed about Trump being the one we had to run with. Sure, we all knew that Hilary Clinton would be an utter disaster, but we had plenty of legitimate concerns about how Trump would fare.
And for daring to very publicly and persistently express my concerns both before and shortly after the 2016 presidential election, I went through a rather hellish time indeed. So many people were utterly incensed at me and made it clear that I was a traitor or worse.
Sadly I did lose plenty of friends back then. Many conservatives and Christians unfriended me on the social media, and I had to unfriend a few as well. It was a rather dark time, and I did not like it one bit. It is said that politics and religion are things we are not supposed to bring up in polite society – I can see why!
But the bottom line is this: I was never a never Trumper. I simply had plenty of very legitimate concerns about running with the guy. So what has changed since then? Well, quite a bit. First of all, we have now some three years by which to assess how he has performed as POTUS.
In many ways he has done much better than I and many others had expected. We can of course look at all the very impressive economic figures which are important to a nation. And almost all of this has been very good. Low unemployment rates, jobs growth, various trade deals and the like have all indeed made America greater again.
But of course conservative and Christians look not just at economic indicators when assessing the wellbeing of a nation. We are especially concerned about moral and cultural issues. Thus to see some solid conservative Supreme Court justices appointed is but one key indicator.
And Trump has been especially quite good on the prolife issues which is also a hugely important matter. A prolife president is vital, and as I have written of late, Trump has been getting better and better in this regard, including being the first US President to speak at the annual March for Life in Washington DC. See my write-up of his speech and his other actions of last month: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2020/01/25/america-trump-and-abortion/
But sadly he has been much more of a mixed bag on issues relating to homosexuality, which is another quite important matter. He has done and said some good things in this regard, but he has also done and said some unhelpful things. We would like a more consistent stance here, but compared to what Hillary would have been doing if she had been elected, it is certainly an improvement.
Other matters could be mentioned, but the truth is, he has done much better in many respects than what I and so many others thought possible. That is good news indeed. And much of this would be because of the fact that he has surrounded himself with many good conservatives and many good Christians. That has certainly gotta help.
Whether or not he is now a true, born-again Christian is still unclear. We can pray that he does indeed become one if he has not yet made such a decision. But even if he is not a committed Christian, he has done much good for the nation, and for the world. I am glad he is there.
And this, as I say, has caused things to go full circle. Whereas before I had many people tearing into me for not supporting Trump, now I have many people tearing into me for supporting him! You just can’t win of course. No matter what you do, you will always get some folks who are all bent out of shape with what you say and do.
As but one example, just today on the social media I had a run-in with a guy who made it clear that I was now part of the Antichrist’s cheer squad because I favour Trump for 2020. In part he said this: “Trump has the spirit of Antichrist. No true christian could support such a man that speaks words of such wickedness.”
I said this in response: “To favour Trump over the diabolical Democrat rivals is NOT to say Trump is right in everything he says or does. It is to say the real spirit of Antichrist is with the pro-death Democrats. And I happen to be a true Christian, and I support him over the alternatives. So if you think I and millions of other true Christians are the antichrist because of our views, you may want to take it elsewhere thanks.
He then claimed that I did not read what he said, to which I replied, “Mate I did read your words. You said ‘No true Christian could support such a man’. I am a true Christian and I support him over the alternatives. So I will say it one last time: if you believe I am not a Christian then take it elsewhere thanks.”
He kept on arguing so I finally had to let him go. And more of this is happening of late. So there will be more skirmishes with some of these folks. Oh dear, you just can’t win. But given that the post where this particular heated exchange took place featured a new article that I was drawing people’s attention to, let me speak to it a bit more. Shane Idleman said this in his article:
Some say, “How can you follow Jesus and Donald Trump?” We are not following a man, we are shaping a movement. A better question to be asking, though, is What direction is the country heading? If a leader lacks Christian character but is pointing the nation back to God, is that a bad thing? If they are minimizing murdering babies and maximizing godly values, is that a bad thing? If they are being a terror to terrorists and making America secure, is that a bad thing? If they are honoring hard work and minimizing free handouts, is that a bad thing?
God doesn’t judge a nation based on the character of one man; He judges it based on the spiritual health of her people. Never forget that….
Again, we are not voting for people based on how godly they are; we are voting for the future direction of America: the right to life, the elevation of God’s Word back to its proper place, the appointment of conservative judges, securing America and her borders, creating jobs, and improving the quality of life for all Americans.
As a personal observation, I have noticed that those who oppose President Trump typically embrace liberal theology. It makes one wonder what is truly leading them: worldly mandates or biblical principles.
I will close with what I stated in a brief op-ed: We can’t have our cake and eat it too — there is no middle ground for Christians today. You can choose a president who will wear a Planned Parenthood scarf at her inauguration or one of the countless others who would seek to destroy the America we know and lead us down the primrose path of socialism — or worse. Or you can choose to back President Trump. There is no Plan B. https://stream.org/how-can-you-follow-jesus-and-support-donald-trump/
Or as Robert A. J. Gagnon recently put it in a social media post:
I don’t know a single evangelical Trump voter who is voting for Trump because of his ethical failings. Evangelicals are voting for Trump rather because of policies that are far superior to Democratic policies as regards the sea-change issues of “LGBTQ” coercion, abortion, judicial philosophy and appointments, free speech, and the free exercise of religion. In that, they are right. Since their vote for Trump is for his genuinely good policies (relatively speaking) in spite of (and not because of) any personal moral failings on his part, there can be no legitimate entertainment of claims that evangelicals are violating Christian principles and destroying Christian testimony. Indeed, that charge is more easily made, I think, of those who are doing little to stop the far greater moral harm arising out of a Democrat in the White House.
In sum, things can change. Trump has changed in some significant ways over recent years. And I hope he changes even further in some areas. My conservative and Christian principles have not changed, but how they apply to new and different political realities can and do change. Given that Trump will of course be the only Republican choice, and given the current diabolical crop of Democrat contenders, we now have no other choice.
An imperfect and still developing Trump is our only real option in this coming election. In a fallen world we are always faced with a number of less than ideal choices – but clearly some choices are better than others.
[1794 words]
Thank you Bill. And our role is to pray both for Trump, and that the great United States of America will all turn back to the mighty God in whom they once so faithfully trusted!
Those who condemn Trump do so only out of spite. I am concerned at his seemingly acceptance of homosexuality as no man or woman can accept the act of homosexuality or queer conduct without rejecting God – full stop!
The question begs; is Trump merely playing the trump card in that he will not overtly burn any of his bridges as say I would? Is he playing the sly hand to give with the left and take with the right in that by being President he can underwrite the laws that ultimately wipes out homosexuality altogether? Time will tell and the only true answer is: God knows.
John Abbott
Thank you for this article Bill. Most of my Christian friends cannot understand my support for Trump. Your statement “As a personal observation, I have noticed that those who oppose President Trump typically embrace liberal theology” rings true to me. None of them see the current world stage as a spiritual battlefield – just one man sending everyone to hell!
Thanks Margaret. Yes, Shane’s statement is quite correct. While I have some conservative Christian friends who still have some concerns about Trump (and I have some as well), most of the religious anti-Trumpers are religious lefties. And yes far too many Christians are oblivious to the bigger picture here, including the spiritual war we are in, as you mention.
I agree with you – not sure why anyone wouldn’t. I have to admire Trump’s thick skin and his unwavering support for Israel, which can only bring blessing!
Well said Bill. When have we ever had a perfect President? The alternative to Trump is too scary to contemplate!
Bill, this is a remarkable article you have shared. Thank you for this timely piece. I, for one, agree with your complete reasoning.
You are in my prayers, as always, especially going forward. People seem to be of a belief in today’s world, being vile to others is fair game. Again, thank you Bill, for your sound reasoning. Blessings to you sir.
Many thanks indeed Clara.
Good article, Bill, you expressed my feelings for both 2016 and now.
The Democratic Party (like the Greens party in Australia) have decided to make themselves the “anti-God party of death”. So for all those self-identifying Christians in America who claim that it is immoral to vote for Trump because he is a Twitter troll and was sexually promiscuous prior to his becoming POTUS, please tell us which candidate they’d vote for from the anti-God Party of Death.
Is it Bernie Sanders who believes being a conservative Catholic disqualifies you from holding high office in the United States and that violation of the 9th and encouragement of the electorate to violate the 10th commandment should be public policy?
Or is it Joe Biden who believes the vice-Presidency should be used to help your son get ahead in business overseas and believes that Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas shouldn’t be justices of SCOTUS because they won’t find fringe left policy in the US constitution including such policies as baby killing right up till birth?
Maybe you’d prefer someone who believes that the government should use the education system to encourage and enable children to have their perfectly healthy sexual organs cut by doctors and be fed drugs that are given to sexual offenders to chemically castrate them like Elizabeth Warren who has used false claims of Native American identity to rise up the greasy pole of academia coz she couldn’t do it on her own efforts (taking positions presumably set aside for actual Native Americans)?
Otherwise quit lecturing American believers who vote according to God’s perspective on marriage, sexual ethics, the killing of innocents, government theft, stealing from the poor through taxation and inflation by the government etc
Quite right Joel.
Great answer to your critic, Bill, and a great quote from Robert Gagnon. Thanks.
I agree with the observation that liberal theology and “small l liberal” politics often go together. I’ve seen that in former work colleagues and professional peers.
Bill, I have been waiting three years for this article, after your strong denunciation of Donald Trump the candidate. Typically, however, you have waited for so long in order to deeply test his decisions & sincerity. This means that your current critique is all the more praiseworthy. Praying for you!
I too can be accused of being a hypocrite with regard to my view of Trump, but I have come to learn that the example of Daniel, Esther and Nehemiah who, rather than damn Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Darius or Xerxes, were tremendous influences in guiding their potentates to godly action. We need to continually pray that Christians will have the ear of the Trump, unlike Queen Elizabeth II who is completely isolated from real Christian influence by court toadies and Church of England bishops.
David Skinner UK
The relationship between Christians and Trump is a bit like the relationship between the Old Testament Jews and King Cyrus.
King Cyrus was not Jewish but was nonetheless praised for advancing Jewish interests.
In a similar fashion, Trump is arguably not properly Christian, though nonetheless has done more than any other American President in many decades to advance Christian interests.
If I didn’t know better, Bill, I would say that you have been looking over my shoulder and quoting my comments and letters, both on social media and in my emails! (I know, you can’t read my emails!)
When Trump joined the Prolife March I was very happy about that, and I shared your article and a few others regarding it. A Democratic friend maintained that I was leading Christians away from the love of Christ, and that your article and others reflecting the same are “not true and junk”. He then unfriended me – loving and concerned individual that he is.
Keep it up Bill. This is a very good piece with absolutely spot on observations (and I say that, not because you quoted me 🙂 ). but because they are true.
Hi Bill, I greatly respect your caution when Donald Trump was a candidate and then elected. Many of us were holding our breath to see how things would turn out. I wonder if the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21:28-31 is relevant. The chief priests and elders challenged Jesus’ authority, but agreed with him that the son who did go to work in the vineyard was the one who did his father’s will. People are quick to judge Trump by what he said (and sometimes continues to say) and feel those things cancel out the very real actions he has taken to strengthen Christian positions on abortion, Israel, freedom of religion etc. since taking office.
Great summary Bill.
I do not publicly express strong political views on my personal FB page, due to my position in BSF.
However, I can make 2 short, sharp points here.
1. President Trump’s personal faith? God only knows. (Not the Beach Boys’ song)
2. In spite of this, he has been promoting Christian ideas, & encouraging Christians more than any POTUS in recent memory, as you’ve pointed out.
Despite the fact that the President has been making the right sounds and is seen speaking to the pro-life rally, etc., at what stage did he turn things around from what has been reported about his pre-POTUS days, specifically, his comments about women and start behaving like a born-again Christian?
Thanks Russell. As I said in my piece, I do not know if he is a Christian. However, if he is talking and behaving like a born-again Christian, then maybe he is one. It is not so important when exactly this may have occurred – the important matter is that he does seem to be substantially shifting from a liberal to a conservative stance. My shift took some time as well.
His work on human trafficking is exemplary well.