It is almost two years since Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. He is without a doubt one of, if not the most, controversial President the United States has ever had. With the mid-term elections happening next month, it seemed a good time to share my thoughts regarding President Trump in another Langstaff Letter, entitled ‘Understanding Trump.’
UNDERSTAND TRUMP IS NOT A NICE GUY. HE IS A WARRIOR
President Trump is not ‘Mr. Clean.’ He has a past; one that probably involved adultery and unfaithfulness in his marriage. He has a presence; one that includes lying. (However, remember that all Presidents have lied.) Some of his tweets can make you cringe with their crudeness and rudeness. His lack of gracious responses to others, such as John McCain. His recorded comments about women. We could go on and on.
Some would argue that a lot of this behavior took place before he was led to the Lord by Paula White. Maybe so, but let us be honest, he is still not a nice guy. We need to understand that he is not going to change a great deal. This is his personality. But have you ever thought that maybe we don’t need a ‘nice man’ to clean up the swamp? To do that, you need a warrior and a fighter, who doesn’t hesitate to throw a counterpunch.
We need to understand Trump and who he is.
UNDERSTAND THE LEFT AND THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA HATE TRUMP
There has probably never been a President who has been so despised and hated by the left wing of politics and the mainstream media as President Trump. Journalist David Kupelian and editor of Whistle Blower Magazine shared an email he received from a liberal reader of his magazine. The tirade ended with this comment, ‘The Republican Party is evil rebranded to succeed in our legal environment. You can’t be Hilter, but you can be Donald Trump.’ Donald Trump is seen by some as a modern-day Hitler.
Consequently, because there is so much bias, it is getting more and more difficult to determine what is fact and what is fake. Let us be honest, Fox News leans to the right, but think for a moment what the mainstream media would be like if there were no Fox News. The result is that there are politicians that are supported by columnists and news anchors who are seeking to impeach the President.
We need to understand the left and the media hate Trump.
UNDERSTAND WHAT TRUMP HAS ACCOMPLISHED
Stop for a moment and consider what Trump has accomplished in his first two years in office. Start with the economy. ‘The American economy is in fine shape growing by annualized 3.2 in the third quarter. . . . unemployment has continued to fall and the stock market to climb.’
President Trump has initiated tax reforms and simplified some of the rules and regulations that have hamstrung businesses. He has seen the appointment of constitutionally conservative judges and an Associate Justice to the Supreme Court. He has made progress in relations with North Korea, worked to reduce illegal border crossings, made significant changes to ObamaCare, moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, and worked towards making America energy independent.
We need to understand what Trump has accomplished.
UNDERSTAND THAT TRUMP IS A PRAGMATIST
Mychal S. Massie, founder and Chairman of the Racial Policy Center (RPC), a think tank he officially founded, wrote this in 2016, ‘We recently enjoyed a belated holiday dinner with friends at the home of other friends. The dinner conversation was jocund, ranging from discussions about antique glass and china to theology and politics. At one point reference was made to Donald Trump being a conservative to which I responded that Trump is not a conservative.
I said that I neither view nor do I believe Trump views himself as a conservative.[highlight] I stated it was my opinion that Trump is a pragmatist. He sees a problem and understands it must be fixed. He doesn’t see the problem as liberal or conservative, he sees it only as a problem’ (mycal-massie.com 2016). When Trump sees a problem, with illegal immigration, for example, his response is simply, ‘Build a Wall.’
By way of explanation, ‘A pragmatist is someone who is practical and focused on reaching a goal. A pragmatist usually has a straightforward, matter-of-fact approach and doesn’t let emotion distract him or her (Vocabulary.com).’
If you do not understand that Trump is a pragmatist, you will never understand Trump.
UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE SUPPORT TRUMP
There are many reasons why people support Trump including:
- Trump tells it as it is. He is bold as brass and lets it all out, holding nothing back.
- He is doing what he promised to do in the run-up to the election. For example, previous Presidents have talked about moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, but no one followed through with it. Trump, ignoring the criticism he would receive for doing so, moved the U.S. Embassy. Not too many Presidents have taken the list of promises made during their campaign and set out to implement them one by one. President Trump has done and is continuing to do this.
- The appointment of judges to the courts, especially the vacancies on Supreme Court.
- They consider what America would have been like if Hilary Clinton had become President. They do not see an acceptable alternative to Trump, and consequently, they support him.
- In all this, he is a strong leader (whether people like him or not) and people support and follow strong leaders, both good and bad. That is history for you.
Understand why people choose to support him.
UNDERSTAND HOW GOD CAN USE PRESIDENT TRUMP
One often wonders how God could use a controversial man of questionable character. But He does, usually without the man knowing it. Let me give you an example from history.
Napoleon Bonaparte does not go down in history as a great and virtuous man. He was more a man of war, a brilliant military leader, a French statesman, and one of the most controversial leaders in history. At that time, efforts were being made to eliminate slavery from Europe and the world. Led by people like William Wilberforce, the slave trade was made illegal in Britain but not so in other European countries. Efforts were made in the peace treaty with France to force them to include the elimination of the slave trade. But the French rejected it. Then, ‘what seemed a miracle happened.’ Napoleon, who had been banished to Elba following his defeat by Wellington, suddenly regained power. Knowing that all of Europe ‘would soon again be arrayed against him and in the canny preemptive to placate his chief enemy Britain, he quickly proclaimed the immediate abolition of the slave trade throughout the French Empire. It was a glorious turn of events for abolition’ (Amazing Grace p 243).
One can argue God used such a controversial figure as Napoleon to bring about a major victory for the abolition of the slave trade. He has done it before, and He is doing it again with President Trump. In this day and age, I believe God is using Trump to achieve some significant breakthroughs in our land and beyond.
Understand that God is using President Trump.
UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO PRAY FOR TRUMP
The Word of God makes it clear we are to pray for our leaders. Paul writes, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers and intercessions and giving thanks be made for all men for kings and all who are in authority.” I Timothy 2:1
In 2016, Christians prayed concerning the upcoming election in a remarkable way. It is time to continue to pray, especially as we move toward the mid-term elections and with all the other things that are happening nationally and especially in Washington.
More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. Wherefore let Thy voice rise like a fountain for me night and day (Tennyson).
Understand the need for prayer.
ONE LAST THOUGHT
I came across this quotation in an article in Christianity Today that caught my attention, “We should be on guard against talking about Trump more than Paul talked about Nero (Christianity Today).”
Let us keep our eyes on the Lord. God is sovereign in the affairs of men, and our trust has to be in Him above all else.
RESOURCES
https://mychal-massie.com/trump-is-not-conservative-hes-a-pragmatist/
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/pragmatist
Metaxas, E. (2007). Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the heroic campaign to end slavery. New York, NY: HarperSanFrancisco.
The Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson (1994)
https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/july-august/jesus-is-lord-caesar-is-not.html
Kairos Ministries 
King David was a leader because God anointed him as a fighter, but he had troubles too. Gods will is above all things and He will use who He wishes.
Good thoughts and well written. Why the left hate Trump is because he is (1) Unsettling and draining the political swamp that have clung to corrupt power for many decades (2) Disrupting the globalist one world agenda who want no borders and no patriotism but an allegiance to the political elite (3) He stands up for those who are and who have been persecuted for their Christian faith (4) He is for capitalism and against socialism (5) For small government not big interfering government (6) He is for the little guy not the political elite. (7) He seeks to restore law and order in our nation and reverse the crime and drug culture in our nation. (8) His agenda is conservative – not liberal.
We pray God uses our President to bring down political correctness, smugness and group think and hopeful help usher in a new wave or sense instead of insanity, morality instead of wickedness, and restore greatness and fear of God in our nation.
Trumpster is not a bad guy, he just sounds like one!
This is particularly illuminating for those who didn’t know, but especially for those who didn’t want to know!
Liz Crokin is an award-winning author, a seasoned journalist and an advocate for sex crime victims. Liz began her journey at the University of Iowa where she received a bachelor’s in journalism and political science.
by: Liz Crokin
As an entertainment journalist, I’ve had the opportunity to cover Trump for over a decade, and in all my years covering him I’ve never heard anything negative about the man until he announced he was running for president. Keep in mind, I got paid a lot of money to dig up dirt on celebrities like Trump for a living so a scandalous story on the famous billionaire could’ve potentially sold a lot of magazines and would’ve been a Huge feather in my cap.
Instead, I found that he doesn’t drink alcohol or do drugs, he’s a hardworking businessman. On top of that, he’s one of the most generous celebrities in the world with a heart filled with more gold than his $100 million New York penthouse.
Since the media has failed so miserably at reporting the truth about Trump, I decided to put together some of the acts of kindness he’s committed over three decades which has gone virtually unnoticed or fallen on deaf ears.
In 1986, Trump prevented the foreclosure of Annabell Hill’s family farm after her husband committed suicide. Trump personally phoned down to the auction to stop the sale of her home and offered the widow money. Trump decided to take action after he saw Hill’s pleas for help in news reports.
In 1988, a commercial airline refused to fly Andrew Ten, a sick Orthodox Jewish child with a rare illness, across the country to get medical care because he had to travel with an elaborate life-support system. His grief stricken parents contacted Trump for help and he didn’t hesitate to send his own plane to take the child from Los Angeles to New York so he could get his treatment.
In 1991, 200 Marines who served in Operation Desert Storm spent time at Camp Lejune in North Carolina before they were scheduled to return home to their families. However, the Marines were told that a mistake had been made and an aircraft would not be able to take them home on their scheduled departure date. When Trump got wind of this, he sent his plane to make two trips from North Carolina to Miami to safely return the Gulf War Marines to their loved ones.
In 1995, a motorist stopped to help Trump after the limo he was traveling in got a flat tire. Trump asked the Good Samaritan how he could repay him for his help. All the man asked for was a bouquet of flowers for his wife. A few weeks later Trump sent the flowers with a note that read: We’ve paid off your mortgage.
In 1996, Trump filed a lawsuit against the city of Palm Beach, Florida, accusing the town of discriminating against his Mar-a-Lago resort club because it allowed Jews and blacks. Abraham Foxman, who was the Anti-Defamation League Director at the time, said Trump put the light on Palm Beach not on the beauty and the glitter, but on its seamier side of discrimination. Foxman also noted that Trump’s charge had a trickle-down effect because other clubs followed his lead and began admitting Jews and blacks.
In 2000, Maury Povich featured a little girl named Megan who struggled with Brittle Bone Disease on his show and Trump happened to be watching. Trump said the little girl’s story and positive attitude touched his heart. So he contacted Maury and gifted the little girl and her family with a very generous check.
In 2008, after Jennifer Hudson’s family members were tragically murdered in Chicago, Trump put the Oscar-winning actress and her family up at his Windy City hotel for free. In addition to that, Trump’s security took extra measures to ensure Hudson and her family members were safe during such a difficult time.
In 2013, New York bus driver Darnell Barton spotted a woman close to the edge of a bridge staring at traffic below as he drove by. He stopped the bus, got out and put his arm around the woman and saved her life by convincing her to not jump. When Trump heard about this story, he sent the hero bus driver a check simply because he believed his good deed deserved to be rewarded.
In 2014, Trump gave $25,000 to Sgt. Andrew Tamoressi after he spent seven months in a Mexican jail for accidentally crossing the US-Mexico border. President Barack Obama couldn’t even be bothered to make one phone call to assist with the United States Marine’s release; however, Trump opened his pocketbook to help this serviceman get back on his feet.
In 2016, Melissa Consin Young attended a Trump rally and tearfully thanked Trump for changing her life. She said she proudly stood on stage with Trump as Miss Wisconsin USA in 2005. However, years later she found herself struggling with an incurable illness and during her darkest days she explained that she received a handwritten letter from Trump telling her she’s the bravest woman, I know. She said the opportunities that she got from Trump and his organizations ultimately provided her Mexican-American son with a full-ride to college.
Lynne Patton, a black female executive for the Trump Organization, released a statement in 2016 defending her boss against accusations that he’s a racist and a bigot. She tearfully revealed how she’s struggled with substance abuse and addiction for years. Instead of kicking her to the curb, she said the Trump Organization and his entire family loyally stood by her through immensely difficult times.
Donald Trump’s kindness knows no bounds and his generosity has and continues to touch the lives of people from every sex, race and religion. When Trump sees someone in need, he wants to help.
Two decades ago, Oprah asked Trump in a TV interview if he’d ever run for president. He said: “If it got so bad, I would never want to rule it out totally because I really am tired of seeing what’s happening with this country.'”
That day has come. Trump sees that America is in need and he wants to help. How unthinkable! On the other hand. have you ever heard of Hillary or Obama ever doing such things with their own resources?
Now that’s really unthinkable! Might be worth passing on!!!
Just shows we hired the right guy. If Hollywood, the liberals and the media ever STOP harassing him, Trump will have time to do many more positive things for our country….the good ole United States of America!!
P. S. To those who are already Fact Checking, don’t bother……already did it, and all the stories are TRUE!
Liz Conklin: