A recent campaign video in the race for the White House has been slated for being "blasphemous", reigniting controversy surrounding former president, Donald Trump.
The ad, about the current front-runner for the Republican nomination, is similar to one that was produced for Florida Governor and Trump rival, Ron DeSantis in 2022. It appears to liken the former President to Jesus, describing Trump as “a man who cares for the flock” and “a shepherd to mankind who won’t ever leave nor forsake them”, and was shared to Trump’s Truth Social account on Friday.
The Trump video goes on to use language that references the Bible, including the book of Deuteronomy, and has left many Christians criticising the piece as blasphemous.
A church leader in Iowa said the video “demeans Christianity” according to Yahoo News, while a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, responded online by quoting Exodus 20:7: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain”.
The video mimics a well known speech by the late broadcaster Paul Harvey, entitled “God Made a Farmer” with a narration that says: “God looked down on his planned Paradise, and said, I need a caretaker". The latest video then continues: "So God gave us Trump.”
Daily Wire reporter and Christian, Megan Basham, posted on X (formally known as Twitter): “The first part of this ad didn’t seem like a big deal. The takeoff of the classic Paul Harvey “God made a farmer” part is fine. But that bit in the middle—“a shepherd to mankind who won’t ever leave nor forsake them.” That is blasphemy and idolatry.”
The first part of this ad didn’t seem like a big deal. The takeoff of the classic Paul Harvey “God made a farmer” part is fine. But that bit in the middle—“a shepherd to mankind who won’t ever leave nor forsake them.” That is blasphemy and idolatry.
— Megan Basham (@megbasham) January 6, 2024
pic.twitter.com/bqPLXx1W4q
Several people online have also taken issue with the video’s statement that “Trump goes to church on Sundays” with some X users declaring this is not true.
The former President is fighting a host of criminal charges brought against him and his allies, in connection with attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election which he lost to President Joe Biden.
Donald Trump is also charged in a federal investigation over his involvement in the deadly riots at the US Capitol buidling on 6th January 2021, in which five people lost their lives.
Trump, who's 77, is allowed to run for the highest office again, but could only serve four more years in the White House if elected. Under the US constitution, the maximum term for any one person to serve as President is limited to eight years.
