This might be a heck of a way to introduce myself on a new social media platform.
I did a lot of blogging from ‘07-’12 or so, then it started tapering off a lot as short forms took over. So there’s no shortage of me running my mouth about different topics. Mostly, I talked about writing, Christian life, and pop culture.
Today, I felt it was important to plant a flag in the ground, so to speak.
To me, it is a sad day that Donald Trump is being inaugurated for a second time.
I know I’m very much in the minority for where I live, for my typical social classification. Nothing new there. As someone who grew up as an evangelical Christian, the expectation is that I would be a Trump voter. After all, around 80% of evangelical voters have been consistent voting for him in ‘16, ‘20, and now ‘24.
I bucked the trend each time. Prior to ‘16, I was a reliably conservative voter. However, I never thought that Trump was fit for office in the first place. Even so, I understand why so many of my family and friends feel like they have to vote for him. At least, the first two times.
I had a harder time for ‘24.
The facts are, Trump lost the 2020 election. No matter how much bluster he stirred up, the overwhelming evidence proves he lost the election. There was no grand conspiracy—he lost to Biden.
I will never forget watching people storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021. I sat in my office at work fuming in anger that so many were duped by this corrupt demagogue into taking such radical actions in DC. There is clear evidence that he was complicit in the build-up to Jan 6 and in his actions that day to try and stop the legitimate certification of Biden’s victory.
The problem of Trump is very deep, and it is fed by both sides of the aisle. Republicans have thrown away long-standing values to stand with this man. Too many have sacrificed their integrity to stay in power and curry his favor. The irony is that Trump has no integrity. He’ll say whatever will help him. Just look at his flip-flop regarding TikTok, since it helped him gain voters—and that’s a very mild example.
Democrats have a large part in creating the environment for Trump’s rise to power. I remember Joss Whedon making a video in 2012 pretending to stock up for a zombie apocalypse if Mitt Romney was elected president, all the while making crazy accusations against a good man. This is just one example of many that made Republicans think they needed a dirty fighter instead of a man with integrity.
Democrats were too cocky in trying to overrun the whole of America to see that they were setting themselves up for a backlash.
Then we had Biden pretend that he could effectively run against Trump again. The Democrats didn’t stand up to him until it was too late. Kamala Harris was thrust into the candidacy without truly being voted on in the primary, and the damage was fully done.
I am angry that we are here. It is infuriating that we had senators who would not call Trump’s crimes treasonous and bar him from running again. It galls me that in another round of primaries that the best America could do was run Trump vs. Biden 2.0. Are there no other candidates who aren’t geriatric?
With the choices before America, we were going to be divided again for these next four years. But I can’t ignore that Trump has done too many things to disqualify him from the presidency. Yet here we are.
I don’t want to be judgmental against people who felt, in the choice between Trump and Harris, that they had to vote for Trump. There is a sharp divide in America, and both sides needs to listen to each other more instead of demonizing the other.
As a Christian, I feel we need to learn grace, humility, and discernment on how to deal with our neighbors. I know good people of faith who voted for Trump and voted for Biden/Harris. Can Christians learn to walk in understanding, listening to those with differing opinions?
The point of my ranting is that I hope Christians will be watching and will call out injustice and wickedness. Trump is the president. Per the guidance of the Bible, I will be praying for him. But I won’t stand by and say that I support him. I look at some of the terrible people he’s put forth for the Cabinet: RFK Jr., Pete Hegseth, Matt Gaetz (yes, he stepped aside, but Trump did chose to put his name out there), and Tulsi Gabbard. These are not serious candidates for these jobs—they are not qualified.
Please, Christians, whether you voted for Trump or not—evaluate the character and actions of Trump and his administration by the standards of the Bible. If there is wickedness or corruption, don’t excuse it.
I didn’t want this day to come without speaking my mind. I don’t plan on making Trump complaints a regular part of what I post here. But it was important for me to state once again that I think Trump is unfit, and it deeply saddens me that our country can’t do better.