it appears trump's shameless stunt is backfiring

[mnmoderatedem]

I mean, from his perspective, the whole purpose of the photo op was to shore up support from evangelicals whose support is crucial and appeared to be waning. The somewhat anecdotal evidence seems to indicate it is not sitting well with religious leaders.

Let's hope this is another nail in the November coffin. I'm optimistic.

[True Blue American]

1. The rest are silent

Only Pat Robertson spoke out!

[Freddie]

2. For one, he picked the wrong church

The Episcopal Church is a liberal denomination. Their basic beliefs are the exact opposite of what he stands for. The national church is LIVID over him using their church as a photo op. Especially now that we know peaceful protesters, ***including a priest***, were teargassed to make way for this stunt. There’s still quite a few of us Mainline Protestants left and we're all pissed off about using one of our churches as a prop without permission.

[Nay]

6. Well, exactly. To him, one church is just like another, since he has never set foot in

any church in order to learn anything, but only for optics and ads. But will the evangelicals have the brains to realize this? Who knows.

[Cha]

10. Thanks for sharing that about the Episcopal Church,

Freddie

[2naSalit]

11. A liberal denomination...

all the more reason he went there.

[DENVERPOPS]

25. I'm just wondering

where the hell they got a bible......Certainly not from anyone in his Administration, that's for sure.......

Did anyone check the book he is holding? Probably not a bible, but a collection of Hitler's writings......
Or directives from Putin...........

[2naSalit]

32. Some close up photos show

it as a bible but it probably was stolen from a chapel in the WH. It isn't like czarina wanders around with one in her purse all the time being Jewish and all.

[Midnight Writer]

34. He found the one the Gideons left in his bunker.

[cbdo2007]

17. I think that's why he did it...

To the conservatives, they think any church is better than none. Most of them don't know anything about Episcopals or what we believe.

But to liberals and especially Episcopalians, we see this as a further invasion into our lives and beliefs. I'm tearing up writing this right now. He knew he was inflicting extra damage with this, by using a liberal church which many fundamentalists don't believe is right, for the back drop of his "stunt".

It is extremely upsetting.

[Freddie]

18. Yes it is

I’m ELCA and our national Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton, put out a statement strongly condemning his actions. Using one of OUR churches as your photo op (and hurting people along the way!) is execrable. Like everything else he does.

[LiberalLovinLug]

29. You don't understand the evangelical mind

I grew up with it.
The fundamentalist evangelicals who are his voters, believe their denomination of Christianity is THE ONLY one that God respects and they are the ones that He loves. Its not just unrepentant immoral sinners (Presidents excepted) that go to hell, its also the idol worshipping Catholics, the weird Mormons, and especially the liberal worldly denominations like United and Episcopal churches.
They will not be outraged Trump used this church as a backdrop. They will only see it as Trump intended, as a symbol of Christian Faith. Fundie evangelicals are well practised in the art of hypocrisy and separating their own doctrine from reality if it suits them.

[Sympthsical]

31. And Wilton Gregory is fairly liberal as Catholic archbishops go

I’ve always liked the man. He confirmed me when he was an auxiliary bishop in Chicago. Very kind person. So pulling the shrine stunt in his diocese wasn’t so bright, either.

[quickesst]

3. with the condemnation....

.... of drump's political stunt by religious leaders all the way up to the Pope, I have one thing to ask. For those who still support the drump administration, and claim to be Christian, how can you possibly attend church this Sunday with a clear conscience?

[cbdo2007]

20. We need it to be trending that the church he is posing in front of believes strongly in equality!!!

[quickesst]

22. this should be....

....a main focus also.

I’m a priest. The police forced me off church grounds for Trump’s photo op.
This sacred space became a battleground.

By Gini Gerbasi
Gini Gerbasi is the Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, in Georgetown. She is a 2007 graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary, and has both a BA and JD from William and Mary.
June 3, 2020 at 5:27 a.m. CDT

When I arrived in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lafayette Square on Monday, bringing granola bars and cases of water, the mood was upbeat. I couldn’t have imagined the grotesque scene that would unfold hours later — that the police would shove us out of the way with riot shields, pepper balls and smoke canisters, to clear a path for President Trump.
More at:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/06/03/priest-stjohns-church-trump/

[crickets]

28. +1

[thecrow]

4. Instant Karma

[lagomorph777]

7. it's gonna get him

[doc03]

5. Overheard in Walmart yesterday two young white guys talking in the next aisle. I hope those

n----gs show up at my place I have two ARs waiting for them. They were loud too like they wanted someone to confront them.

[yardwork]

9. Walmart warriors.

[2naSalit]

12. Mouth melitia. nt

[backscatter712]

15. The Methmouth Militia.

Another one of the Gravy Seals...

[Canoe52]

35. Meal Team 6

[Cha]

8. I hope So! I predicted it

would Backfire.. & I'm grateful it's unfolding as it should

[2naSalit]

13. +1

[Johnny2X2X]

14. He's shoring up support, but not for votes

He needs this 25% to support his next terrible and despotic set of actions. If they think he’s acting as a Devine messenger they’ll support what ever atrocity he inflicts on the country next.

He knows he has their votes wrapped up, this is something else.

[backscatter712]

16. The whole time he was pulling that shit...

I was wondering how he could touch that Bible without bursting into flames.

[rpannier]

43. Notice how much trouble he had holding it

It's what happens when your fingers are burning

[Vogon_Glory]

19. Donnie may have cheered up some Evangelicals, BUT

I’d say he p(xxx)ed off a lot of liturgical Christians. Tear-gassing the clergy was outrageous.

[Alex4Martinez]

21. Let this be his pivotal moment. Did he literally walk there and say nothing?

I mean, it's all the worst and solid proof that it's a photo op and nothing more.

I can't bear to look at him so appreciate the run down on whether or not he even spoke.

Thanks!

[karin_sj]

37. Yes

He stood there, holding up the Bible, and tried to look like a tough guy. He didn't say a word. It was so bizarre.

[manhattan123]

23. Maybe he's seeing troubling internal numbers...

...but he keeps doing and saying things to prop up and please his base who, you would think, are going to vote for him anyway.

The Evangelicals are going to vote for him. The gun nuts are going to vote for him. His latest stunt just served to piss off other religious leaders and average Americans.

It all seems counterproductive.

[keithbvadu2]

24. His supporters say he is supporting religious freedom.

His supporters say he is supporting religious freedom.

Yeah! Right!

Kicking a priest and follower out of their church by gov't force is their idea of 'religious freedom'.

[Karadeniz]

30. He should be supporting constitutional and human rights.

[shockey80]

26. DUH!

[obamanut2012]

27. Even Pat Roberston is upset

[SeattleVet]

33. After the White House released the 'triumphal' video of his trip to the photo-op

people have been having a great time fixing it with a better music selection or creative editing:

Link to tweet

Or adding a little Yakkity-Sax:

Link to tweet

Or intercutting what's happening out of range of the WH camera:

Link to tweet

[crickets]

39. I love all of these.

This is pretty on point:

Link to tweet

There is a string of them, each one having its own unique flavor.

[louis-t]

36. And why shouldn't it backfire?

He has no common sense. He has the worst instincts of anyone I have ever seen. Every time he tries to prove what a genius he is, he makes a fool of himself. The more desperate he gets, the wilder his antics. With every fuckup, he proclaims success. I real feel the backlash will take him over the edge this time. I only hope he can control himself and not start murdering more people.

[crickets]

38. K&R

[blakstoneranger]

40. THEY KEY IS TO NOT LET UP ON HIM

He's a lucky duck. He didn't get this far by being unlucky. Somebody is carrying him. No matter how far he falls, there's always someone there to catch him. I dont know why, maybe out of respect for his father. So we cannot let up, we have to keep the pressure on and not forget, HE IS NOT ABOVE CHEATING BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. If all else fails, his base fails him, his billionair donors fail him, he will resort to using russians or any other country to help rig this election and then claim the election is rigged as a cover. He may even find a way to manipulate the electoral college. who knows, but if all else fails, he will cheat!! He is the type who doesn't care how he wins, as long as he wins--winning at any cost.

[Beringia]

42. Isn't the whole republican party like that now

No following the rule of law, only cheating to win.

[Beartracks]

41. I don't get it. "Ooh, he's holding a Bible!!"

"OMG!! He's standing outside a church!! Squee!!!"

Really, does he expect that evangelicals are so impressionable that he doesn't even have to DO anything at a church, like pray, or provide solemn thoughts, or feed the poor, or throw some paper towels, or harangue folks in poverty for being losers? NOTHING? I mean, come on, this was the most photo-oppy of photo ops; it was literally like a magazine shoot. He just stood there in front of a backdrop with a prop in his hand so people could take his picture.

(I know, I know. Evangelicals CAN be pretty impressionable. But still... They're not stupid.

=========

[keithbvadu2]

44. He made sure to go to a shut down church.