More than 13,000 Christians have joined a petition calling on certain pastors, who have been vocal supporters of the MAGA movement, to denounce threats against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and other officials who have charged ex-President Donald Trump.
The petition, initiated by the digital platform Faithful America, was introduced earlier this week. Initially aiming for 10,000 signatures, the goal has been increased to 15,000 due to the overwhelming response.
The website states that many of those responsible for the 91 felony charges against Donald Trump face growing threats. It mentions that several prominent right-leaning pastors, including Franklin Graham, Mike Huckabee, and Mark Burns — referred to as “Trump’s Top Pastor” — have been silent about these threats, even though their rhetoric may have contributed to this hostile environment.
Both Graham and Burns are well-known evangelical leaders in the US. Huckabee, once the governor of Arkansas, is also a Baptist preacher. They have been unwavering in their support for Trump since 2016 and have frequently downplayed the charges against him, framing them as political maneuvers to hinder his potential 2024 campaign.
The petition page by Faithful America, an entity opposing Christian nationalism, quotes, “Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and those who live by the sword die by the sword.” It criticizes these pastors for their perceived role in stoking anger and urges them to address and condemn these threats urgently.
DA Willis, responsible for indicting Trump, has been transparent about the prejudiced threats she has faced even before her recent announcements against Trump. Reports reveal that Willis had shared one such threat with county officials, which contained derogatory language.
Elsewhere, a Texas resident is under federal investigation for allegedly threatening U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is in charge of the case concerning Trump’s involvement in the January 6 Capitol incident. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who charged Trump with manipulating financial records linked to 2016 payments, also faced threats shortly before announcing his charges.
Trump has been known to use his online presence to challenge those associated with inquiries into his activities. As a result, stricter bail conditions were implemented in his Georgia case, and protective orders were put in place concerning the January 6 incident.
Historical data indicates Trump has always enjoyed substantial backing from Christian demographics in the US. Pew Research Center’s 2020 findings revealed that the majority of consistent religious service attendees, particularly white evangelical Protestants, favored Trump over President Joe Biden. A Reuters report from earlier this year confirmed Trump’s continued popularity among conservative Christian voters.
