A tweet from Christian Evangelical leader Franklin Graham, calling for his followers to "Pray for President Putin today," and not the people of Ukraine who are living in fear they will be invaded by Russia has set off a wave of criticism on Twitter.
According to Graham, who is a notable supporter of former president Donald Trump who has his own cozy relationship with the former KGB head, "This may sound like a strange request, but we need to pray that God would work in his heart so that war could be avoided at all cost. May God give wisdom to the leaders involved in these talks & negotiations, as well as those advising them."
Commenters were quick to point out he didn't ask for prayers for President Joe Biden by name as the United States attempts to intervene and stop what could be a devastating war in the region.
As one commenter pointed out, "Putin literally blew up a passenger airliner and mercilessly murdered 298 people."
Another added, "A fine day to grovel to your overlord$ eh? Get off your knees, charlatan."
You can see some more responses below:
Have you ever prayed for President Biden? 🤔
— jane (@earlyaldenlang) February 19, 2022
Just the fact that you would ask for prayer and then add "It may sound like a strange request" lets us all know the type of christian you are Franklin! My prayer is that the Lord would soften YOUR heart and that you would be able to "Love like Jesus" before you hurt another soul.
— Kurious (@Kurious94501197) February 18, 2022
A fine day to grovel to your overlord$ eh?
— JB 🕊🇺🇸🇺🇦🇪🇺🇨🇦🗽 #NoToChristofascists #NATO (@Standupchai) February 19, 2022
Get off your knees, charlatan. 🤡 pic.twitter.com/ayke6sQLy6
Franklin Graham praying for Putin and not for Biden tells you all you need to know about Franklin Graham.
— The USA Singers (@TheUSASingers) February 19, 2022
Did he loan you some Russian taxpayer money?
— wheatus (@wheatus) February 19, 2022
Don’t you have his phone number? You have met with him several times, and appear to hold him in high regards. https://t.co/5XazAihtvg
— Ryan Cordell (@ryandcordell) February 19, 2022
Excuse me?
— Murphy’sLaw❤️🦬 (@dam7978) February 19, 2022
We’re not buying what you’re selling Frankie.
We’re ‘praying’ for the Ukrainian people. Not Putin.
And, yes, it’s a real strange request. Just not a surprising one.
Putin literally blew up a passenger airliner and mercilessly murdered 298 people. https://t.co/ejUWPo7KoT
— 🌱crft (@keraz37) February 19, 2022
— mike obrien (@MikeOBrien95340) February 19, 2022
Why not just call Putin and give him that advice? Weird to pray for Putin and not like all the innocent people in his path. pic.twitter.com/NUWG60iVGl
— 🌎🌍🌏 (@thisreallyis) February 19, 2022
People are abandoning religion because of people like @Franklin_Graham so of course he uses social media where he constantly gets dragged. If there is a god she does not like Franky.
— Triple Vaxed Seth 💙 Ⓥ 🇺🇸 (@SethP23) February 19, 2022
I was baptized by your father in Hartford, CT. You are not your father's son. Anyone who asks for prayers for the devil should be shunned by good people everywhere. pic.twitter.com/cPWPjqtRNy
— Vera 💙 Stands With Ukraine 💛 (@prayerfeathers) February 19, 2022
