the Guardian By Alice Herman
Republican nominee reflects on assassination attempt and says ‘my faith took on new meaning on July 13’.
Donald Trump urged Christian voters on Monday to participate in the 2024 election, claiming that a Kamala Harris administration would restrict religious freedoms and casting himself as a protector of Christians.
During an event in North Carolina billed as an “11th-Hour Faith Leaders Meeting”, a series of conservative pastors warmed up for Trump, including Guillermo Maldonado, an “apostle” and longtime Trump ally who cast the election in perilous terms.
“You know, we’re now in spiritual warfare,” said Maldonado, alluding to the idea that Christians are at war on the supernatural plane against dark forces that impact the real world. “It’s beyond warfare between the left and the right. It’s between good and evil. There’s a big fight right now that is affecting our country and we need to take back our country.”
Introducing Trump, Ben Carson, the campaign’s National Faith Chairman for the 2024 election, openly rejected the idea of secular society.
“This election is about whether we are a secular nation or one nation under God,” said Carson, echoing the aims of Christian nationalists who view the US as a Christian nation that must return to God.
In a meandering speech, Trump spoke about the assassination attempt at rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, leaning on the idea embraced by many Christian conservatives that God intervened to save his life.
“My faith took on new meaning on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, where I was knocked to the ground, essentially by what seemed like a supernatural hand,” said Trump. “And I would like to think that God saved me for a purpose, and that’s to make our country greater than ever before.”
He urged Christians to vote.
“You have a reputation of not voting proportionately,” Trump said. “Christians, evangelicals … but Christians and gun owners don’t vote.” The former president vowed, as he frequently does, to roll back the Johnson amendment, which prohibits non-profits, including churches, from endorsing political candidates.
“Within the first week, you’re gonna have that right,” said Trump…
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