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THE SUGGESTION THAT God protected Trump from a bullet is blasphemous drivel. Many supporters of former President Donald Trump claim that his survival of the recent assassination attempt was due to divine intervention.
Several described him as an angel. Trump himself told the Republican Party Convention recently that he stood before it “only by the grace of Almighty God”.
It would be tempting to ignore such blasphemous drivel. Over many years, Trump has comprehensively ruptured any tenuous connection between words and meaning, between posturing and truth. There can, therefore, only be limited value in analysing his ramblings. It is an easy segue from the “alternative facts” that discredited his first Presidency to the “supernatural fiction” on which he seems to be campaigning for a second one.
However, even if we shouldn’t treat Trump’s preposterous claim of divine intervention with the remotest seriousness, there are four reasons for us not to ignore entirely his latest pseudo-biblical claptrap.
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‘The chosen one’
First, Trump’s claim to be God’s chosen one can leave no one in any doubt about how he is approaching the November election or how he intends to govern if returned to the White House. Since he believes that he is an instrument of God, he will – in his own mind – be entirely free of any remaining constraints that normally apply to someone holding public office in a democracy.
If Trump is the choice of God to lead America, he will – if he loses again in November – undoubtedly dismiss, even more shamelessly than in 2020, the democratic choice of the American people. The fundamental principles of democracy, including independent courts, will count for nothing against the tablets of stone that Trump has brought down to his people from the MAGA mountaintop. It would naturally be unthinkable for a President endorsed from on high to be limited to a mere two terms in office.
Second, anyone who believes that they have been hand-picked by a deity has no reason to reflect honestly on the difference between right and wrong or to take any account of what the God they purport to believe in might actually have to say.
There can rarely have been anyone in public life more devoid of a moral compass than Trump. He is more influenced by the propaganda of the National Rifle Association than by the Sermon on the Mount. According to Trump’s philosophy, Jesus was obviously a “loser”. Strongmen like Putin and Xi, much admired by Trump, would never come out with that meek and gentle nonsense. Kim Jong Un would never be so dumb as to turn the other cheek. Now that Trump has accorded himself quasi-celestial status, the chances of him seeking humble guidance from any source of morality, religious or secular, are now zero.
The cult of Trump
Third, the notion that there is some God that intervenes to deflect specific bullets is mumbo jumbo. To accept that there is the slightest truth in such a heresy would strengthen the ludicrous and dangerous cult that Trumpism has become. If there were such a divine force in the world, specialising bizarrely in ballistics, it is hard to imagine that anyone could be lower down its list of priorities than Trump. One would have to assume, amongst many other things, that such a force went AWOL when genuinely admired American leaders — including Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King and the Kennedy brothers — became the victims of assassins’ bullets.
It is self-evident, to cite just one example, that the hundreds of children killed in mass shootings across the United States, made possible by supporters of the National Rifle Association, would be infinitely more worthy of benign interest from above.
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Fourth, Trump’s claim to be the chosen candidate of some Christian God brings further discredit on those Christian churches and leaders who endorse him as a fit candidate to lead America. The basic thrust of Trump’s politics flagrantly contradicts the Christian gospels — his relentless disregard for the truth, his calculated divisiveness and extremism, his aggression towards migrants and other vulnerable people and his manifest amorality. In the face of his latest theological outrage, namely implying that he is somehow an agent protected by a divine Secret Service in the sky, the priests and ministers amongst his supporters, facilitators of his blasphemy, have been shamefully silent.
Trump supports the growing campaign to display the Ten Commandments in school classrooms across the United States. The Republican Governor of Louisiana has claimed that Trump’s would-be assassin would have been deterred if they had been so displayed. Apparently, the words “Thou Shalt Not Kill” on a wall would have been more effective than preventing an unbalanced young man from having easy access to lethal firearms.
Trump’s sexual improprieties inevitably remind one of the good news and the bad news that Moses reportedly announced to his followers when he presented to them the tablets of stone. The good news, he told them, was that he had negotiated the number of Commandments down to ten. The bad news was that Number Six was still in.
Trump’s disrespect for the Commandments doesn’t stop there, as further illustrated by his claim to have had the Lord’s protection last week. His supporters should take a break from their nonsense about displaying the ten traditional exhortations in educational establishments and remember instead that, according to their own professed beliefs, they should not take the Lord’s name in vain; or worship false idols.
Bobby McDonagh is a former Irish Ambassador to the EU, UK and Italy. He is an executive coach and commentator on subjects around EU and Brexit.
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@Robert Bell: I posted this elsewhere last night but it’s an article that’s worth highlighting to the Trump devoted. Trump doesn’t remotely match up to the supposed standards of the so called Christian’s and evangelicals. If many of them weren’t so hypocritical they would admit this. Alas American Christianity is unhinged and corrupt on a mass scale. But who knows, maybe a few will have pause for thought and remember that it’s not that long ago someone like Trump would have represented so many things they claim to stand against. This isn’t from one of those libs you hate. It’s from a conservative Christian…
@Paul: What on earth are you on about. It’s Trump and his minions cheering on the end of democracy. It’s Trump and his cult who want to remove the separation of church and state and force one system on everyone. It’s Trumpism that seeks to blast through any dissent and install a culture of yes people and sycophants because he can’t handle different opinions. His narcissistic man baby view of the world infects everything he does. The people cheering him on might well come to regret installing someone they can’t vote out. It’s great when you feel like you’re ‘winning’. Less so when the fever has died down and you’re left with an unstable egomaniac who doesn’t even believe in the things he promises you.
I love the faux hate the media have of Trump it reminds me of the celebrities who said they would leave usa in 2016 cos its cool to hate him pass me the puke bucket somebody
@ecrowley ecrowley: it sickens me how people dehumanise other people just because they have different values or beliefs or support a politician they don’t agree with. Those äpes and spaß are people following their own interests based on their own values and judgment, some might be intelligent and some might not be but that doesn’t make them any less human.
@John K: If you, Trump or his supporters think God saved him, you should be questioning God, not me. He is a deßpicäble human being and his supporters are either equally so or completely dense. If this was pointed out to them earlier or more often then the US wouldn’t be as in such bad shape.
@ecrowley ecrowley: you’re calling circa half the USA either despicable or completely dense simply because you don’t share their values or opinions. I disagree with the idea that divine intervention saved him, it was just outrageously lucky. The point I’m trying to make is you shouldn’t think less of someone because you disagree with them. One group of people thinking another group of people are inferior is exactly the thinking that has led to some of the worst atrocities in history and must be pushed back against at all opportunities.
@John K: Ok, one half of the US is incapable of critical thinking, they’re not any of the bad names I called them, bless em. I don’t think less of them apart from the fact that there are serious consequences for being drawn in by a charlatan. Those consequences are far reaching. Trump is a danger to American society and further afield. Actually I do think less of them. Are you giving out about my name calling or the fact I’m criticising Trump cos they are 2 different arguments.
@ecrowley ecrowley: justify it however you want, or try brush it off with humour but dehumanising is very dangerous behavior. No issue with criticism of Trump or his supporters.
@John K: Humans, who have no interest in humanity at large (take something as simple as Trump’s green policies, as one example) and you’re giving out about the timbre of my language. Get a grip.
@ecrowley ecrowley: You are the ape.
If you are a hipster aetheist, you should think about this. Somewhere in this mess creation began; and it will end.
So if you believe in nothing and things end, which they shall, so will all your ideals and vile opinions
@Paul Treacy: Listen muckforbrainß, militant atheists are less dangerous than religious zealots but they’re certainly more annoying. I am in neither camp. At least the other lad is worth having a conversation with, you? Jog on.
@ecrowley ecrowley: I’m disagreeing with the content of your language, we probably won’t influence a single vote either way in the election but we can encourage polite debate where we respect the opposition. Everybody, republican or democrat just wants to pursue their own personal interests.
@John K: I’m sorry, John. I’ll try tone it down a bit but it is absolutely ridiculous how half the country is taken in by someone of Trump’s ilk. You can dress it up in pretty language in any way you see fit, but reality is reality. Do these people know the long term and far reaching consequences of voting for Trump?
@ecrowley ecrowley: lovely speaking to you, I don’t support Trump but insulting him or his supporters, or anybody really, will immediately make them defensive and impossible to convince them to change their opinion.
They just can’t accept how evil Biden was.
Thousands dead in Ukraine and the Middle East.
4 million illegals across the southern border.
Children still detained in Obamas migrant detention cages.
@Paul: unfortunately & sadly, it’s in the HUNDREDS of thousands across Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and even Russia l, not to mention Afghanistan & Iran. Regrettably, nothing we can do about the past…BUT we can look forward to calm & stability under the president of peace.
I don’t think he really believes that, he’s playing to his audience of Evangelical nutjobs who do believe it. In fact 50% of Americans believe god deflected the bullet. Bats….t crazy country.
Lol! In all fairness to Bobby McDonagh, that quite the stream of drivel from him too.
He appears to believe in an all powerful God figure, but decides that his interpretation of gods will, favors his viewpoint and claims superiority over other peoples interpretation of gods will, including Trumps!
If an assassin tried to shoot Bobby McDonagh is the same circumstances and he got hit in the ear but was otherwise unscathed, he would probably be claiming, there but for the grace and intervention of god he would be dead, and perhaps even theorising that it could be a sign…
Trump he was damn lucky and is understandably viewing his brush with death as significant, how others view Trump as a result is really on them, he’s not the messiah, he’s a naughty, naughty Billionaire.
@Clare Power: lol, I’m new ( a week or so) on this comments board….. I’ve already been christened ‘frank’,'kevin” & ‘ken’…… In fairness William is a new one, lol
@Clare Power: Totally agree with your assessment of Dump.. Harris? Hmmm not so much.. Still, its a no brainer if you had a vote. Only a simpleton would vote for Dump.
@Brian: I’ve watched Harris since her Senate years demolishing the GOP in Committee. She was my personal favourite of the Dem candidates last time around. She’s sharp as a tack. My moneys on her.
To be fair.. anyone who believes in the old fairy tale still and is running for election to run a country is dangerous.. whether it be divine intervention dribble, or simply using a faith as a guidance in any form.. it has no place in modern politics, education or to influence any other people.. Work away behind closed doors but never involve that stuff in the rest of our lives.. big god fearing country.. kills more people than any other.
A bit racist from the bold Bobby.
His referencing of the religious right clearly means the white evangelical communities, with the corollary that the black Christian communities are locked in for whomever will be the Democrat nominee.
How Mr McDonagh can hold his head up after engaging in such blatant racial stereotyping will be interesting to watch.
An excellent piece that should be posted on all American networks.
It might waken some people from their stupor.
Trump was not saved by God.
He was rejected for being the bad egg,the faulty biscuit in a factory which gets turned into crumbs.
Does he actually believe this ,we all know he is of the lowest calibre when it comes to intellect,or even common sense.
He should be sectioned,as he has become dangerously delusional.
Trump is a serial adulterer who buried his ex wife on a golf course, without a decent word to say about anyone, who can’t qoute a bible verse when asked. If anyone thinks he is anything resembling a christian, they are delusional.
But that is an absolutely embarassing article by a former ambassador. It’s a complete betrayal of duty. Yes the former part included. Cringeworthy and humiliating. Stooping down at, well, guess whose level. Should not be allowed to earn another cent in his life.
Well, there is one way of putting Trump’s claims to the test….on a firing range under controlled scientic conditions and supervised by the FBI, secret service and observed by the world’s media…..how about it, Donald?
Trump couldn’t name one single passage from the bible when asked. You’d think he would have even learned one just in case. But no. He no more believes in religion than the man on the moon. Bizarrely his religious supporters know this deep down but follow through with supporting him anyway. Also if God saved him from the bullet why did he allow the guy to go out there shooting in the first place?
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