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.
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 ’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.
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!"
Trump: "Part of the beauty of me is that I'm very rich."
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."