As the Iowa caucuses approach, even Donald Trump has made an appearance in the state, despite his belief that he is already the clear nominee. Trump has been holding rallies to gather his supporters and make sure they understand his expectations. At a recent rally, children were seen wearing shirts and hats with the letters “FJB,” an abbreviation for an obscene insult against President Biden. Trump himself made derogatory comments about his GOP rivals and mocked Biden, suggesting he uses drugs. Outside the venue, vulgar slogans about Biden and Vice President Harris were displayed on T-shirts. While this kind of behavior is not entirely new in Republican gatherings, it is unprecedented for the candidate himself to engage in such behavior. Trump has also been posting Nazi-esque statements on social media, suggesting a “final solution” for his enemies.
In another town in Iowa, Trump skipped a meeting with Christians to discuss important issues. The event, called the Family Leader’s Thanksgiving Family Forum, was attended by other GOP candidates who pretended to have a chance of winning the nomination. The forum focused on faith and abortion, with some candidates discussing personal experiences related to those topics. However, it is clear from polling that conservative evangelical Christians strongly support Trump, even more than the rest of the Republican Party. Attempts to appeal to their decency are futile, as many of them favor political violence and appreciate Trump’s comments about barring certain individuals from entering the country based on their beliefs. Trump has also been vowing to remove those he dislikes from America. Trump has recently received endorsements from important office holders, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who represents conservative evangelicals. Johnson is affiliated with the far-right New Apostolic Reformation movement, which seeks to dissolve the separation between church and state. For Christians like Johnson, Trump is simply a tool to advance their cause, regardless of what else he represents.
For Trump’s supporters, his insults and crude behavior do not bother them because they believe in his strong policies and the good he did for the country. As Christians, they are willing to overlook his flaws. This aligns with Trump’s own approach, as he rarely apologizes for his actions.
