Have white evangelicals finally been embarrassed enough by Donald Trump? There were some glimmers of hope that many in the community hit their limit when the president posted a video to Truth Social that included a clip portraying Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times argued that no one should be surprised, as Trump’s entire career has been centered around “his bitter, deep-seated racism.” But even after a decade of pretending not to see it, even some stalwart Trump supporters couldn’t deny the video was the visual equivalent of saying the N-word in public.
Along with a handful of congressional Republicans, a number of prominent Christian conservatives condemned the video. Sandi Patty, a legend in gospel and contemporary Christian music, posted a video on Instagram, noting she’s a “registered Republican” but found the video “inexcusable.” The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention issued a statement calling the clip “intentionally derogatory and dehumanizing.” Dr. Russell Moore of Christianity Today, Kay Warren of Saddleback Church and Desiring God founder John Piper also denounced the video.
