Our political polarization has taken a very ugly (and violent) turn. Repeatedly, many on “the right” insist that Democrats are doing the Devil’s work. And those same folks will cloak themselves in the language of Jesus Christ, will prominently display Christian crosses (Exhibit A: Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt), and claim they are doing the will of the Lord Almighty. And on the Trump White House website, we read:
“In everything we do, my administration will be inspired by a strong pursuit of excellence and unrelenting success. We will not forget our country, we will not forget our Constitution, and we will not forget our God.”
According to Perplexity Pro (an AI tool):
- Donald Trump has publicly called Democrats “demonic” at campaign rallies, using the term to describe his political opponents in the 2024 election cycle.
- Prominent evangelical and charismatic leaders aligned with Trump, such as Paula White (his spiritual advisor) and Lance Wallnau, have repeatedly described opposition to Trump—particularly from Democrats—as being driven by literal demonic forces or a “demonic network.” Wallnau, for example, has told audiences, “the Left is loaded with demons,” and has framed the political contest as a battle of good versus evil, with Democrats portrayed as vessels for demonic influence.
- At large gatherings and in sermons, pastors have denounced Democratic leaders, including Kamala Harris, as being influenced by demons or likened to biblical figures associated with wickedness (such as Jezebel). These events often include collective prayers or decrees calling for spiritual warfare against what they describe as the “forces of darkness” aligned with the Democratic Party.
- MAGA pastors and Christian nationalist figures have also promoted the idea that Democrats are not just political opponents but are part of a spiritual battle, sometimes referring to them as “demonic” or “Demon-crats” and claiming Trump is divinely chosen to combat these forces.
And yet, when I asked Perplexity AI this question, I did not find much alignment between GOP’s policies and the better angels of our nature (including the teaching of Jesus: “If Jesus came back and became a U.S. citizen, which party’s programs, policies and platforms would he most likely favor?
- Economic and Social Policies: Jesus’s emphasis on caring for the poor, advocating for economic justice, and challenging systems that perpetuate inequality aligns more closely with the current Democratic Party platform, which prioritizes raising the minimum wage, expanding social safety nets, increasing taxes on the wealthy, and investing in public goods like healthcare, education, and housing.
- Justice and Inclusion: The Democratic platform’s focus on inclusion, civil rights, and support for marginalized communities also echoes Jesus’s message of radical inclusion and compassion for the outcast.
- Approach to Wealth: Jesus’s warnings about the dangers of wealth and his call for generosity and redistribution of resources are more in line with Democratic proposals to close tax loopholes for the wealthy, increase taxes on billionaires, and invest in programs for the poor.
- Republican Platform: While the Republican Party emphasizes individual liberty, deregulation, and economic growth through tax cuts and reduced government intervention, these priorities do not directly reflect the economic justice and communal responsibility themes central to Jesus’s teachings.
This may be AI talking, but it certainly seems consistent with the Gospel readings I have heard in Protestant churches all of my life. My wonderful wife claims a lot of people engage in “spiritual cloaking.” That is, they put on the trappings of religiosity, but inwardly (and in their actions) they are just mean-spirited humans with little or no connection to a spiritual life.
Sadly, the kind of demonizing language about Democrats used by Trump and many on “the right” is perfectly legal, since “hate speech” is protected under the First Amendment. Vance Boelter was, evidently, very much influenced by this kind of talk, and had a list of 70 Democratic politicians that needed (in his mind) to reunite with the Devil in Hell.
Trump himself has not called for the deportation of Democrats, but has publicly threatened to arrest and deport Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee who won the New York City mayoral primary. Trump has repeatedly claimed—falsely—that Mamdani is in the country illegally and has suggested that his citizenship should be investigated or revoked.
We should not be shocked if someone like Vance Boelter, hearing such hateful and false rhetoric, takes violent action. After all, if Mamdani is a Democrat, he must be working with the Devil, unlike the good Christian political leaders like Speaker Mike Johnson and his GOP majority who craft public policy to help all of God’s children and stive to make their budget policies fit the teachings of Jesus. (Oops. . . I guess not; the “big, beautiful bill” seems to reject the basic principles Jesus would embrace, but that’s a topic for different blog, coming to this space very soon.)