Faith leaders are asking for prayers and expressing concern for Donald Trump and the nation following Saturday’s assassination attempt. Their comments come after dozens of world leaders have spoken out in support of Trump after he narrowly escaped death.
“May God protect all who serve us,” Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Seminary, posted on X. “Thankful former President Trump is safe. We need to know what happened here. This kind of attack is an attack upon our entire political system and our commitment to ordered liberty. Let’s pray for our nation.”
Mohler’s sentiments about the dangers of political violence were echoed across the religious spectrum in the United States. “There can be no place for violence, political or otherwise, in our nation,” said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union of Reform Judaism. “This is a dangerous moment, and we must all appeal to the better angels of our nature. We are praying for President Trump’s health and for all those injured.”
Bishop W. Shawn McKnight of the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City wrote on X, “I ask you to join me in prayer for Donald Trump’s health and for our country to pull together in peace during these divisive times.”
Franklin Graham, head of his father’s Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, similarly posted simply, “I thank God that former President @realDonaldTrump is alive.” Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida went further, proclaiming that “God protected Donald Trump,” seeming to bolster the notion that Trump has been ordained by God to lead the country.
Rabbi Pinchas Taylor, who heads the American Faith Coalition said stated “I cannot see the recent attempted assassination of former President Trump as anything but an open miracle that has left an indelible mark on our collective consciousness.” He continued, “regardless of our political affiliations, we must stand united in condemning all forms of political violence, as such actions are a threat to the very fabric of our democracy and to the principles upon which this great nation was founded.”
READ: US leaders react with prayers after Trump shot
Pope Francis expressed “concern about last night’s episode of violence, which wounds people and democracy, causing suffering and death” in a July 14 statement in Italian. He continued that he is “united in the prayer of the U.S. bishops for America, for the victims, and for peace in the country, so that the motives of the violent may never prevail,” according to Catholic News Service.
Bishop John Dolan, who leads the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, released a statement Saturday evening on the rally shooting saying, “My heart goes out to those who suffered during today’s act of violence that took place in Pennsylvania during President Donald Trump’s campaign rally, including the former president himself.”
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, a prominent liberal Democrat stated, “There can be no place for violence, political or otherwise, in our nation. This is a dangerous moment and we must all appeal to the better angels of our nature. We are praying for President Trump’s health and for all those injured.”
Chicago Muslim community leader Samir Khalil, president of the Arab American Democratic Club of Illinois, said: “It is truly sad that so many tragic events around the world and the leading democracy nation reach this level of tragic political violence. As a human being I am saddened by this violent behavior. We should expect more intervention from the free world to influence peace and harmony not wars and no more hate. May God bless humanity of the world and the great USA.”
The Orthodox Union (OU), one of the umbrella organizations for Orthodox Judaism in the United States that broadly represents much of the modern Orthodox community — calledthe assassination attempt “appalling” and “deeply upsetting.”
“With deep concern, we have been witnessing a gradual descent towards anarchy that has impacted the safety and security of our country, its leaders, and its people,” OU said. “We pray for a return to law, order, and a peaceful public square. We offer sincere prayers for the full recovery of former President Trump and all those harmed by today’s unconscionable attack.”
Many political and faith leaders, even as they prayed for Trump, also asked for prayers for the country as a whole, particularly America’s polarized political landscape. “We need to pray for the healing of our land and for a safe and peaceful election this November,” Dwight McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, wrote on X.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice