…how did “Christians”…fall for this charade? And how were we able to condition our souls to embrace such reverse logic and selective credo in discarding Biden and co as sinners in one breath, but devotedly pushing the narrative that Trump was a Saint and God-sent?
My people have a proverb that says, “even while crying, our eyes can see”. I’ll situate this within the context of our current euphoria around the U.S. elections, which has thrown up a lot of hilarious jokes, by saying, “even in our laughter, let’s have some serious reflections and conversations. We learn nothing if we throw everything away in throwing jabs at Donald, without an analysis of our trajectory to this sorry pass, with reverberating effects around the world!
Let me start with a quote from Mary Trump, an American psychologist and the outgoing president’s niece, which goes:
“Donald Trump had no issue cheating his way to success. He would have his eldest sister, Maryanne, do his homework for him, and he hired a ringer to take his SAT for him.
To hedge his bets, Donald enlisted Joe Shapiro, a smart kid with a reputation for being a good test taker, to take his SATs for him. That was much easier to pull off in the days before photo IDs and computerised records.
Donald, who never lacked for funds, paid his buddy well. Donald’s pathologies are so complex and his behaviors so often inexplicable that coming up with an accurate and comprehensive diagnosis would require a full battery of psychological and neuropsychological tests that he’ll never sit for.”
I took these words from Mary’s Book Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man. You probably know that Donald Trump made spirited efforts to ban the release of this book through the law courts. Naturally, you only do that as a quiescent admission of guilt and a nervous attempt at censorship.
I have done some appreciable reading and listening to objective analysis on Trump’s lifestyle.
Golfing, socialising, boldfaced lying, womanising, declaration of bankruptcy after gaming the system, tax-evasion, and a brazen penchant for denigrating vulnerable or strong women, because he objectifies and views the gender only from the myopic lens of an ammoral groping sexual exploitation. For every woman he nets down, his emotions stir a feeling of conquering a victim through the power of money and the glitz of stardom.
Christianity? One of the bedrocks of Christianity is loving all and also forgiveness. How can a man who finds comfort in racial rhetoric be a Christian? How can a man who thrives on aggressive vengeance be a Christian?
Recently, and with a sobering declaration, Michael Cohen, his personal attorney, vowed that he “cannot leave his 15 year old daughter alone with Trump”.
With all these and more, those who line up and defend Trump with zest and unbridled passion lay claim to his professed “Christianity and Christian life”.
Christianity? One of the bedrocks of Christianity is loving all and also forgiveness. How can a man who finds comfort in racial rhetoric be a Christian? How can a man who thrives on aggressive vengeance be a Christian?
In his interview in the global media recently, Trump’s former DHS chief of staff, Miles Taylor, revealed that Trump once said he wanted migrants to be ‘gassed, electrified and shot’. Even as no one amongst us were in the room to witness this appalling and egregious construct, the world cringed at the TV images of children caged up at the Ursula Texas facility, which the Spanish call a “Dog Kernel”. This, when reflected upon, fits into the submission of Miles Taylor. The sight of innocent children in distress, under the now defeated President Trump, and with his unconscionable dismissal of such horrifying sight in continued penchant for gangster demagoguery, remain indelible in the hearts of those who love doing good. So, will Christian Trumpers be adjudged as living the lives of doing of good?
I concede the right to supporting Trump to them. But not without a critical interrogation of the seeming hypocrisy in the underbelly of this. Apart from a few ceremonial show-ups at the St. John Church, Trump does not even go to Church! And I recall he was roundly condemned by Reverend Marian Budde, who voiced outrage against Trump for posing with the Bible and using the Church for a photo-op after unleashing brutality on protesters on January 1, while the George Floyd protests raged. The Reverend said, “He did not even pray”!
So, how did “Christians”, including Nigeria’s Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, fall for this charade? And how were we able to condition our souls to embrace such reverse logic and selective credo in discarding Biden and co as sinners in one breath, but devotedly pushing the narrative that Trump was a Saint and God-sent?
Based on this near faultless brand packaging that converted a lot of souls, if I were to write a Book on Trump, I will likely title it, Donald Trump: Whited Sepulchre and the Exploitation of Piety.
What title will you give yours?
Akin Fadeyi is the Founder, Akin Fadeyi Foundation.
