US evangelical magazine wants removal of  “morally lost” Trump

Christianity Today  one of the principal  evangelical magazines in the United States carries  an editorial calling  for  the dismissal of President Donald Trump, calling him “morally lost,” a day after the House of Representatives approved to put Trump on political trial for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress

The magazine said that although it usually stays away from politics, it was  “necessary” to clarify certain things.

 “The facts, in this case, are unequivocal. The president of the United States has tried to use his power to force a foreign leader (the president of Ukraine) to harass and discredit” one of his political opponents, former Democratic vice president Joe Biden.

 “It is not only a violation of the Constitution; what is more serious is that it is deeply immoral,” said the magazine which stressed that Trump has “silenced the idea of morality in his government.”

“He himself admitted immoral actions in business and in his relationship with women, of which he remains proud,” it said. “His Twitter account, with its usual chain of erroneous characterizations, lies, and slander, is an almost perfect example of a human being who is morally lost and confused,” it  said

. According to the magazine, the hearings in Congress “illuminated the moral defects of the president in view of all.” It further argued that “Trump’s evangelical supporters have pointed out their nominees to the Supreme Court, their defense of religious freedom and their administration of the economy, among other things, as achievements that justify their support.” But he wondered if it was possible to argue that abortion is intolerable and at the same time that the character of the president does not really matter in the end. If the Senate or the popular vote should remove Trump from office in the next election “it is a matter of prudential judgment,” it  said. “That they dismiss him, we believe, is not a matter of partisan loyalty but of loyalty to the Creator of the Ten Commandments,”  it  said.

The editorial  brought a  strong rejection from  the president. who enjoys solid popularity among white evangelical Christians (although his approval has dropped from 81% in 2016 to less than 70% today). In a series of tweets on Friday he wrote:   “No president has done more for the evangelical community, not even close.” And described the magazine as extreme left wing and he will no longer read it.