Franklin Graham posted a critical response to Christianity Today‘s editorial in which Editor in Chief Mark Galli called for President Donald Trump to be removed from office.
Saying CT represents the “elitist liberal wing of evangelicalism,” Graham criticizes the Christian magazine not only for its stance on Trump but also for using his father’s legacy as a reason for speaking out. (Billy Graham founded CT in 1956.)
“Christianity Today released an editorial stating that President Trump should be removed from office—and they invoked my father’s name (I suppose to try to bring legitimacy to their statements), so I feel it is important for me to respond,” Graham wrote. “Yes, my father Billy Graham founded Christianity Today; but no, he would not agree with their opinion piece. In fact, he would be very disappointed.”
Graham then revealed something he says he has never shared before: His father voted for Trump.
“I have not previously shared who my father voted for in the past election, but because of this article, I feel it is necessary to share it now,” he says. “My father knew Donald Trump, he believed in Donald Trump, and he voted for Donald Trump. He believed that Donald J. Trump was the man for this hour in history for our nation.”
Graham says that for CT to “side with the Democrat Party in a totally partisan attack on the President of the United Sates is unfathomable.” CT, he says, ignored the good Trump has accomplished during his presidency and has sided with the left’s attack, which he claims is based on false accusations.
“Christianity Today said it’s time to call a spade a spade,” he says. “The spade is this—Christianity Today has been used by the left for their political agenda. It’s obvious that Christianity Today has moved to the left and is representing the elitist liberal wing of evangelicalism.”
Read his full post below:
Trump responded to Graham’s defense of the president, saying, “Thank you to Franklin Graham for stating that his father, the late great Billy Graham, voted for me in the 2016 Election. I know how pleased you are with the work we have all done together!”
Regarding CT’s original editorial, Trump posted several rants on Twitter, saying that “no president has ever done what I have done for Evangelicals, or religion itself!”
“A far left magazine, or very ‘progressive,’ as some would call it, which has been doing poorly and hasn’t been involved with the Billy Graham family for many years, Christianity Today, knows nothing about reading a perfect transcript of a routine phone call and would rather have a Radical Left nonbeliever, who wants to take your religion & your guns, than Donald Trump as your President,” he tweeted. “No president has done more for the Evangelical community, and it’s not even close. You’ll not get anything from those Dems on stage. I won’t be reading ET [sic] again!”
Not all of Graham’s relatives came to Trump’s defense, though.
Boz Tchividjian, grandson of Billy Graham, congratulated CT:
“A heavy hearted bravo to CT! Well said on so many levels. I believe my grandfather would have had a similar perspective. Thank you.”
Jerushah Duford, another grandchild of Billy Graham, shared similar sentiments:
“Maybe a little late but I can not help but think my grandfather, as a founder would be proud of the courage demonstrated here.”
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