Behind closed doors on Monday, President Donald Trump warned evangelical leaders that their congregations could suffer violence if he loses the upcoming midterm elections. President Trump wasn’t threatening the Evangelical leaders with violence, mind you, but instead establishing solidarity, warning that Christians could be under threat if Republicans lose Congress.
Apparently, President Trump claimed that the upcoming midterm elections were a referendum not just on him, but also on religion and the Constitution. In his own words: “This November 6 election is very much a referendum on not only me, it’s a referendum on your religion, it’s a referendum on free speech and the First Amendment. It’s a referendum on so much.”
Trump claimed that if Democrats take back Congress, the left will overturn everything that he has accomplished. Trump went further, insinuating violence and citing Antifa as an example of what might come. “When you look at Antifa—these are violent people,” Trump said before urging Evangelical leaders to turn out the vote.
Trump also noted: “You have tremendous power. You were saying, in this room, you have people who preach to almost 200 million people. Depending on which Sunday we’re talking about.”
Two hundred million is a bit of an overstatement, but white Evangelicals comprise approximately 17 percent of Americans, making them one of the largest voting blocs in the nation. Evangelicals are also more likely to show up at the voting booth. During the 2016 Presidential race, President Trump secured 80 percent of the Evangelical vote, which proved vital for taking the White House.
That support came even as President Trump was accused of infidelity and other “sins.” Many also question whether Trump is a bona fide Christian, owing to his behavior and lack of regular church attendance.
Interestingly, during the Presidential race, some Evangelicals argued that Trump’s Christian credentials don’t really matter. Many Evangelicals believe that a non-Christian could serve the interests of Christians and pave the way for a true Christian leadership. Some Christian preachers have cited the story of Cyrus, a pagan Persian king who paved the way for the Jews to return to Israel.
Could Trump be a modern-day Cyrus? Even if he were impeached, he has advanced the conservative Christian agenda, delivering increased protections for “religious liberty” and giving conservative Christians a greater say in the White House. And if Trump were to resign or be impeached, it would be conservative Christian Mike Pence who’d take control of the White House.
Trump almost certainly will not be impeached if Republicans retain control of Congress. However, if Democrats seize the House and Senate, they would be able to advance impeachment charges, should the Mueller investigation turn up anything. On the campaign trail, Democrats have downplayed the prospect of impeachment, fearing that it could turn out Republican voters.
So far, Republicans are facing an uphill battle in the 2018 midterm elections. The biggest concern seems to be turnout. Polls, special elections, and primaries all suggest that Democrats are energized, while Republicans seem less enthusiastic. Still, Trump remains immensely popular among Republicans and intends to barnstorm battleground states this fall. Win or lose, the Evangelical vote will play a crucial role this fall.
