Evangelical leaders did not jump to President Donald Trump’s defense when he declared Feb. 19 Ukraine provoked Russia’s invasion and ought to accede to Vladimir Putin.
His most ardent evangelical supporters were mysteriously silent, and evangelical leaders who have called him out before said this claim was outrageous even for Trump.
Ed Stetzer, dean at Talbot School of Theology and editor of Outreach magazine, posted on X: “Ukraine was invaded by Russia. Ukraine did not ‘start it.’ I was there last summer and stood on the destroyed bridges, saw the cars shot up on highways, and heard the stories from the Christians there in Kyiv. Let’s pray for an end to this evil Russian war — one that does not reward the aggressor and blame Ukraine for resisting an illegal invasion.”
Christian leaders like Stetzer joined political evangelicals like former Vice President Mike Pence to warn that Trump is telling a dangerous lie.
Pence said: “Mr. President, Ukraine did not ‘start’ this war. Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The Road to Peace must be built on the Truth.”
What Trump said via his Truth Social platform was so outrageous it drew international scorn — even as he already had orchestrated “peace” talks with Putin without any participation by Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky.
Trump’s post said:
Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and “TRUMP,” will never be able to settle. The United States has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe, and Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back. Why didn’t Sleepy Joe Biden demand Equalization, in that this War is far more important to Europe than it is to us — We have a big, beautiful Ocean as separation. On top of this, Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is “MISSING.” He refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden “like a fiddle.” A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left. In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only “TRUMP,” and the Trump Administration, can do. Biden never tried, Europe has failed to bring Peace, and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the “gravy train” going. I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job, his Country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died – And so it continues …..
By all factual and historical accounts, what Trump said simply is not true. It is a demonstrable rewriting of history.
Heath Mayo, a conservative attorney who leads a nonprofit called Principles First, tweeted: “Ukraine started the war — a total disgrace against everything America represents. Don’t be shocked — be motivated. And for damn sure do not bend the knee. Stiffen your spine and get ready to win back an America with a moral compass.”
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton joined the chorus opposing Trump: “Trump’s characterizations of Zelensky and Ukraine are some of the most shameful remarks ever made by a US President. Our support of Ukraine has never been about charity, our way of life at home depends on our strength abroad.”
“This is a Russian propagandist’s dream.”
Evangelical New York Times columnist David French: “It’s not just that Trump has a flawed strategic vision (lots of presidents have had flawed strategies), it’s also that he’s full of malice and spite towards Ukraine. So he will lie and lie and lie. This is a Russian propagandist’s dream.”
Southern Baptist theologian Malcolm Yarnell, a self-described conservative, appeared to have anticipated such a turn of events. Shortly after the presidential election last November, he tweeted: “Do not trust those who would surrender any part of Ukraine to Russia in the name of world peace and security. If the West betrays Ukraine, it will invite further aggression by Putin. Appeasement of tyranny in history hides either a lust for tyranny or a futile escapism, or both.”
His colleague on the left, Curtis Freeman of Duke Divinity School, took to Facebook with an open post addressing Trump:
You are not telling the truth when you blame Ukraine for starting the war. Russia is the aggressor and invaded a sovereign nation. Moreover, Russian soldiers have engaged in indiscriminate murder of noncombatant civilians in Ukraine. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces have been responsible for damaging or destroying at least 660 churches and other religious structures, including at least 206 belonging to Protestants. The largest number of Protestant churches damaged or destroyed have been Pentecostal, 94, Evangelical Christian Baptist, 60, and 7th Day Adventist, 27. And what Russians have not destroyed or seized, they have closed and banned for purposes of worship. Please learn what is actually happening. Tell the truth. Stand up against the Russians. Defend Ukraine. History will remember.
Meanwhile, the biggest names in Trump’s evangelical orbit were silent on social media. No comment from Franklin Graham, Tony Perkins, Robert Jeffress, Jack Graham or Paula White.
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