It’s not entirely new. The original White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI) was created during the administration of George W. Bush, and was continued by both Barack Obama and Joe Biden. But I don’t recall ever hearing about it back then.

During Donald Trump’s first administration, the office remained vacant until 2018, when he launched a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative, and appointed Pastor Paula White as its head.

But again, not much was heard about it. This time around, however, Trump seems more determined to enlist God’s help in accomplishing his mission to rule the world, and has created the new White House Faith Office, under the Domestic Policy Council, to “assist faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship in their efforts to strengthen American families, promote work and self-sufficiency, and protect religious liberty.” [“Presidential Actions – Executive Order: Establishment of the White House Faith Office,” WhiteHouse.gov, February 7, 2025.]

And again, it is headed by Paula White: a “televangelist, nationally known evangelical leader in the Charismatic movement, and longtime spiritual advisor to President Donald J. Trump.” [Wikipedia.org.]

As written, that doesn’t sound like a terrible thing . . . but how is faith the business of government? And what faith, or faiths, are we talking about?

If you dig a little deeper, you will also find references to Pete Hegseth’s Christian prayer services at the Pentagon, and JD Vance’s membership in a church that is associated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) — a movement “committed to maintaining its Reformed faith, avoiding the pitfalls of cultural relevance and political compromise that destroys our doctrinal integrity.” The CREC churches adhere to a strictly patriarchal and conservative interpretation of Scripture, advocating, for example, that in a sexual relationship, “A woman receives, surrenders, accepts.” [Samuel Perry, Baylor University, The Conversation, June 20, 2025.]

As stated in my post of June 25, 2025 — “The Crusades, Part Deux?” — CREC churches also contend that the government, and everyone serving in it, should be Christian. In an interview with the Nashville Tennessean, researcher Matthew Taylor said:

“They believe the church is supposed to be militant in the world, is supposed to be reforming the world, and in some ways conquering the world.” There are also CREC schools, known as Logos Schools, whose curriculum is designed to help parents “raise faithful, dangerous Christian kids who impact the world for Christ and leave craters in the world of secularism.” [Id.]

In other words: White, Christian, misogynistic nationalists.

I also looked into Paula White’s Charismatic movement, which, I’m sorry to say, did nothing to ease my mind. Also a movement of Christian churches, it “emphasizes the active presence and work of the Holy Spirit, often through spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues, healing, and prophecy . . . [and] is often characterized by expressive and emotionally charged expressions of faith, such as raised hands, dancing, and speaking in tongues. . . Some critics argue that the emphasis on spiritual gifts can be exploited by manipulative leaders or individuals. . . . The emphasis on subjective experience can lead to a lack of discernment and a susceptibility to false teachings or practices. . . . Some Charismatic churches have been associated with the prosperity gospel, which teaches that God blesses believers with material wealth.” [AI Overview, Google.com.]

Well, he certainly has blessed Donald Trump and his inner circle of friends and sycophants.

One of the most precious freedoms granted by our Constitution is freedom of religion, and that freedom applies not only to Donald Trump, JD Vance and Paula White, but to every single American. Required participation in a prayer sessiion at the Pentagon or at the start of a Cabinet meeting is completely out of place, and most especially when it favors one faith — in this case, Christianity — over others.

And on that subject, I call the reader’s attention to the White House Faith Office dinner held on Monday to honor more than 60 business leaders and CEOs who donate to faith-based charities, and to “encourage them to continue investing with the White House Faith Office.” [Brooke Singman, Fox News, July 14, 2025.]

Perhaps I’m missing something, but I’d like to know what sort of “investments” the White House is soliciting, and to what purpose.

In addition to the 60+ business leaders and CEOs, also in attendance were Treasury and Commerce Secretaries Scott Bessent and Howard Lutnick, Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, and — apparently the sole non-business-related guests — Pastor Paula White and Faith Director Jenny Korn.

But this was supposed to have been about faith . . . right?

Apparently, there was an actual moment of prayer — led by Paula White, of course — during which Trump assumed the position and put on his pious face:

And then came the speeches. As part of his prepared notes, Trump said:

“I’ve ended the radical left war on faith, and we’re once again protecting religious freedom instead of destroying it, and God is once again welcomed back into our public square.” [Josh Fiallo, Daily Beast, July 14, 2025.]

Then — as he usually does, and never should do because he always ends up making a fool of himself — he veered off-script. According to first-hand reports, he talked about the “bullshit” Biden-era indictments against him, and compared himself to Al Capone:

“I was under investigation. more than the late, great, Alphonse Capone. Think of it. Al Capone would kill people for dinner. If he left the room and he didn’t like him, he’d have him shot, killed, buried under a building someplace, as part of the foundation of a building. They’re all over the place, and I said I had more time under investigation than the legendary Alphonse Capone, or probably anybody else. The one thing I did that was very helpful, I was indicted five times. Indicted, that wasn’t a word that was in — my father’s looking down, my mother’s looking down, that my son’s not supposed to be indicted. I think I got indicted five times, impeached two times. All bullshit, right? Terrible stuff.” [Id.]

Then he went off on another incoherent tangent, this time about gas prices:

“Gas prices have reached the lowest level in five decades. Actually, it’s going to be, we’re going to see some really good numbers where, you know, drill, baby drill, drill, baby drill. I’ve got to make sure that people can afford to produce the gas. . . .

“But the gas has gotten to the lowest level in decades, and you’re seeing $1.99, $1.98. I saw $1.95 at certain states, not California, because every time it goes down, they add taxes onto it. All they do is they keep adding taxes. Terrible governor, doesn’t know what he’s doing. He may be, he may be a candidate, but if you, if you go by success, you can’t have him be a candidate.” [Id.]

“Drill, baby, drill.” The Gospel according to Saint Trump.

And the luncheon crowd of CEOs and business leaders reportedly clapped and cheered at all the right moments . . . immediately bringing to my mind this scene from George Orwell’s 1984:

And this, from 1930s Germany:

And one more, from 2022:

Announcing the Invasion of Ukraine: “Together Forever”

*. *. *

Am I overreacting? Possibly, but I don’t think so . . . not in light of everything that’s been taking place in this country since the beginning of this year. The warning signs are there: signs of a steady decline into dictatorship. We’ve seen it happen too many times before, in other countries.

Are we going to sit back and let it happen here?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/17/25