Donald J. Trump survived an assassination attempt last weekend in Butler, Pennsylvania. While stumping at a campaign rally, the former president and current Republican nominee was grazed by a bullet from an AR15-style weapon.
Good Faith Media released a statement immediately after the incident to express thankfulness for former President Trump’s well-being. In addition, GFM decries political rhetoric that insinuates—or calls for —violence against any human created in the image of their creator.
Therefore, it is with a strong appeal towards nonviolence I claim that former President Trump may be more dangerous now than before. The country waited to see if the former president’s near-death experience would change his words and actions, inspiring him and his followers to tone down their rhetoric.
While Trump immediately told reporters that his message after the assassination attempt would be one of unity, the rhetoric coming from the Republican National Convention this week— and his pick of J.D. Vance as his running mate—suggests he is doubling down on his divisive and dangerous message yet again.
Listening to speakers from a perch above the crowd, Trump looks more like a dictator than someone seeking the presidency. Politicians who have been highly critical of the former president in the past–Nikki Haley, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ron DeSantis, and even J.D. Vance—are currently demonstrating their unwavering loyalty and support.
The inevitable may follow.
Moments after the assassination attempt, as the Secret Service surrounded him, the wounded and bloody former president raised his fist to the crowd and shouted, “Fight!” In that iconic moment captured by photographers, he may have solidified victory, sending the country ever closer to a potential second Trump term.
Political analyst and Good Faith Weekly guest Matthew Dowd posted this thought on X (formerly Twitter) days before the assassination attempt: “Many folks consistently get presidential campaigns wrong. They think they are about issues and who gives more extended answers on issues. Presidential campaigns are about values and the ability to communicate in a simple, clear, consistent, resonating way and the most important value today is strength. If campaigns were about issues, Hillary would have won in 2016, Kerry would have won in 2004, and Carter would have won in 1980.”
Emboldened by recent events and polls showing the former president ahead, Trump chose Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate this week. Vance, known for his book “Hillbilly Elegy” and once being a “Never-Trumper,” recently switched alliances to voice his fidelity to Trump and preserve the MAGA movement.
According to the New York Times, Vance opposes all forms of abortion, even in cases of rape and incest, claiming “two wrongs don’t make a right.” The Republican Vice Presidential candidate also opposes funding Ukraine, saying, “To be honest with you, I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another.”
Vance continues to espouse misleading rhetoric when it comes to immigration, claiming that “Biden’s open border is killing Ohioans with more illegal drugs and more Democrat voters pouring into this country.” Neither has been substantiated with facts.
Finally, he is an election denier. Vance believes the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. He has gone on record, citing that he would not have certified the vote as Vice President– an office he is currently pursuing and a topic that should concern us in four years.
Unfortunately, that sentiment is a fairy tale for anyone thinking a near-death experience would tamper with Mr. Trump. Instead, surviving an assassination attempt has further encouraged him to think he’s more invincible than before.
Many of his followers have gone to social media claiming that God’s providential hand saved Trump in order for him to become President again. As Trump accepted the nomination on Thursday, there were more references to divine providence by the former president and his supporters.
Such theological malpractice is extremely dangerous, misleading people into believing God endorses and desires their candidate to lead—even to the point of protecting them over other victims of mass shootings.
God does not choose presidents; people choose presidents.
As a person of faith, I pray for our leaders and wish them the utmost success, because their success is our success. However, the creator of the universe transcends politics.
If we want to be honest, the Hebrew Scripture suggests God never desired kings (or presidents) to rule over humans.
The prophet Samual points to this heresy: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’ But you have now rejected your God, who saves you from all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king over us’” (First Samuel 10:17).
While the United States is not a theocracy, nor should it ever be, we would do well to consider the warnings from the prophet against placing kings or presidents in the position of God’s hand on earth. Kings and presidents are human beings, flawed and tainted as the rest of humanity.
When supporters believe their candidate is God’s anointed, we have crossed the rubicon of theological sanity. Even more dangerous is when the candidates themselves begin to believe that untruth.
When that happens, we are in more danger than we realize.
The time is now for people of good faith to reject such theological nonsense and the rhetoric of hate and divisiveness. While thoughtful citizens will always differ over solutions to problems, we must never abandon our humanity and replace it with collective narcissism.
America is at its best when we think outside ourselves, lifting others toward inclusion, freedom, and justice. We are at our best when we champion even more democratic values for all rather than declaring rights for only a few. We are at our best when we see our fellow human beings for whom they truly are— our brothers and sisters made in God’s image.
Good Faith Weekly ended an interview with Matthew Dowd this week by asking the “More To Tell” question. Dowd answered by calling listeners to remember the prophet Isaiah.
After God’s exasperation with Israel’s sinfulness, God posed a question out of exhaustion. With head in hands, God asked, “Whom shall I send?”
While the prophet Isaiah answered God’s call in this instance, others also answered. Jeremiah, Amos, and Hosea heard and responded to the question.
Moreover, God has continued to ask the question throughout history. When asked, decent, moral, and ordinary men and women heard and responded.
God does not choose favorites but calls ordinary people to love through enacting justice. There is no special one because we are all special in God’s eyes. While Donald Trump may be more dangerous now than before (and again, I am ever so grateful he is alive), I still hold out hope our better angels will prevail.
Why do I maintain hope, you may ask?
Because I believe in the resolve of humanity.
I believe good and decent people of faith are listening and answering God’s call.
I believe we are at a crossroads with an unknown future awaiting us— beyond politics as usual.
I believe we cannot afford to flee in fear but rise up and collectively reject tyranny through the democratic process of self-governance.
I believe God’s question still demands an answer.
I believe God does not choose presidents— we do.
Who will answer the call? Will you?
