Some supporters of President Trump – including a prominent West Virginia state representative – are expressing disappointment that he used God’s name in vain twice during a campaign rally Wednesday.
His speech in front of a large crowd in Greenville, N.C., was televised on cable networks and came the same week the media spotlighted his “go back” remarks about Democratic congresswomen. In fact, the crowd’s “send her back” comments about a Minnesota representative dominated media coverage about the rally.
But some Christian supporters of Trump were focused on his coarse language. Trump said “God—n” in the speech twice.
Recounting a conversation with a businessman, Trump said he told him, “‘If you don’t support me, you are going to be so God—n poor, you are not going to believe it,’” Trump said. He used the word a second time in reference to the U.S. military and Iran.
Paul Hardesty, a West Virginia Democrat state representative who backed Trump in 2016 and said he still supports him, wrote Trump and urged him to stop using God’s name in vain.
“I am… appalled by the fact that you chose to use the Lord’s name in vain on two separate occasions, when you went off the prompter during your speech,” he wrote in the letter. “There is NO place in society — anywhere, any place and at any time — where that type of language should be used or handled. Your comments were not presidential.”
Hardesty continued, “I would respectfully ask that you examine yourself, reflect on your comments, and never utter those words again. Please remember Mr. President, in the United States of America, ‘In God We Trust,’ not curse.”
The Charlotte Observer was the first outlet to report on Hardesty’s comments.
Social media was filled with Trump supporters expressing frustration over the president’s language.
“I support him, but he curses God’s name, then says God bless the USA. Heartbreaking!” supporter Nancy Riddle wrote on twitter.
@robertjeffress Please ask Pres Trump not to say GD publicly. I heard it twice on tv in the part of his speech I heard him give in the North Carolina rally. I support him, but he curses God’s name, then says God bless the USA. Heartbreaking !
— nancy riddle (@clcjcm) July 18, 2019
Another supporter, Kathryn Elizabeth, tweeted, “Did you have to use the ‘gd’ word twice Trump? Really? Show some class! What you say behind closed doors is one thing but outside those doors & in front of all Americans & kids to hear?? Think b4 you speak please sir.”
Did you have to use the “gd” word twice Trump? Really? Show some class! What you say behind closed doors is one thing but outside those doors & in front of all Americans & kids to hear?? Think b4 you speak please sir 🙏
— Kathryn Elizabeth (@Kath755) July 18, 2019
Still another supporter, Judith Ellen Gladue, wrote on Twitter, “I love you Trump greatly, but a few minutes ago you said GD, and I am having a REALLY hard time with that. I’m SO disappointed, you just don’t know!”
@realDonaldTrump I love you Trump greatly, but a few minutes ago you said GD, and I am having a REALLY hard time with that. I’m SO disappointed, you just don’t know!
— Judith Ellen Gladue (@SWCCMom) July 18, 2019
Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, MichaelFoust.com.
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