10 Donald Trump Quotes That Should Horrify His Evangelical Supporters

This is how far Trump and his supporters have departed from the gospel.

After months of campaigning, flip-flopping on important issues, and generally wreaking havoc on the party that for decades has presented itself as defenders of Christian America, Donald Trump took to the stage at the Republican National Convention and thanked the evangelicals who helped him get there.

At this moment, I would like to thank the evangelical and religious community because I’ll tell you what. Because the support they’ve given me, and I’m not sure I totally deserve it, has been so amazing. And has had such a big reason for me being here tonight. True. So true.

So true, it’s cringeworthy.

Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump formally accepts the nomination at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 21, 2016.
Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump formally accepts the nomination at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 21, 2016.
Carlo Allegri / Reuters

White evangelical Protestants are a considerable force in the elections ― making up one-fifth of all registered voters. While a number of evangelical leaders have pointed out that Trump’s policies and actions are decidedly un-Christian, rank-and-file white evangelical Americans have in fact thrown their support behind the candidate. According to the Pew Research Center, 78 percent of white evangelical voters say they would vote for Trump if the election were held today.

But if you place Trump’s quotes, principles and policies next to the ideals set forth by Christianity’s founder, the gap is startling. Trump has little regard for some of the fundamental teachings of Jesus Christ ― showing love for your neighbor, welcoming the stranger, and asking for God’s forgiveness.

Inspired by HuffPost contributor Michael Stark’s blog, “Donald Trump’s Beatitudes,” HuffPost Religion has assembled this list of sayings of Jesus and of Trump that show just how deep the divide between these two men is ― and how far Trump’s Christian supporters have departed from the gospel.

Getty/HuffPost
Jesus: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you.”
Trump: “When people wrong you, go after those people, because it is a good feeling and because other people will see you doing it. I always get even.”
Getty HuffPost
Jesus: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Trump: “I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall.”
Getty / HuffPost
Jesus: "The King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"
Trump: "I'm putting people on notice that are coming here from Syria as part of this mass migration, that if I win, they're going back!"
Getty/HuffPost
Jesus: “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Trump: "Sorry losers and haters, but my I.Q. is one of the highest -- and you all know it! Please don't feel so stupid or insecure, it's not your fault.”
Getty / HuffPost
Jesus: "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Trump: "Why do I have to repent, why do I have to ask for forgiveness if [I'm] not making mistakes?"
Getty/HuffPost
Jesus: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
Trump: "I’m in total support of waterboarding. It has to be within the law, but I have to expand the law."
Getty/HuffPost
Jesus: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
Trump: "I fully think apologizing is a great thing. But you have to be WRONG ... I will absolutely apologize sometime in the hopefully distant future if I'm ever wrong."
Getty / HuffPost
Jesus: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
Trump: “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters.”
Getty/HuffPost
Jesus: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Trump: "Part of the beauty of me is that I'm very rich."
Getty / HuffPost
Jesus: "This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. …This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."
Trump: "When I go to church and when I drink my little wine and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of forgiveness. I do that as often as I can because I feel cleansed."
Close

What's Hot