White evangelical Christians may have finally found something intolerable about Trump


West Virginia state Sen. Paul Hardesty wrote the White House last month to chide President Trump, whom he supports, for his "terrible choice of words" at a rally in North Carolina last month. It didn't have anything to do with his widely and heavily criticized attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), which prompted the crowd to chant his "send her back!" line. Instead, he wrote, he was "appalled by the fact that you used the Lord's name in vain on two separate occasions," urging Trump to "never utter those words again."
Hardesty, a self-proclaimed "very conservative Democrat," tells Politico he didn't even listen to the speech until three "distraught" constituents called him up to complain about Trump's use of "g--damn" at the rally. "I've had people come to me and say, 'You know I voted for [Trump], but if he doesn't tone down the rhetoric, I might just stay home this time,'" Hardesty told Politico, adding that he has yet to hear back from anyone inside the White House.
Some of Trump's most steadfast evangelical allies shrugged off Trump's profanities, even when they violate the Third Commandment. "We all wish he would be a little more careful with his language, but it's not anything that's a deal breaker, and it's not something we're going to get morally indignant about," said Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. But two anonymous pro-Trump pastors told Politico they wince and cringe through Trump's profanities. "Carelessly invoking the Lord's name in a fit of anger is one thing," one of them said. "But repeatedly doing it for shock value ... that does raise questions about the president's respect for people of faith."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump is hardly the first politician to use coarse language, Politico notes, but "the difference is Trump enjoys the support of the religious right — and losing the group's support would be catastrophic for his re-election bid." Read more at Politico.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
September 1 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday’s political cartoons include Labor Day picnic, branding strategy, and more
-
What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza?
Today's Big Question Former PM has reportedly been putting together a post-war strategy 'for the past several months'
-
When does autumn begin?
The Explainer The UK is experiencing a 'false autumn', as climate change shifts seasonal weather patterns
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda