Christianity Today writes editorial saying Donald Trump should be removed from office after impeachment
Donald Trump has slammed an influential evangelical magazine after it said the impeached president should be removed from office because he is “morally lost and confused”.
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US President Donald Trump is blasting a prominent Christian magazine that published an editorial arguing that he should be removed from office.
Mr Trump tweeted that the magazine, Christianity Today, an evangelical magazine founded by the late Reverned Billy Graham, is a “far left” publication, which “has been doing poorly and hasn’t been involved with the Billy Graham family for many years.”
He adds that it “knows nothing about reading a perfect transcript of a routine phone call,” a reference to his July call with the president of Ukraine that led to his impeachment.
Mr Trump claims the magazine would rather have “a Radical Left nonbeliever, who wants to take your religion & your guns, than Donald Trump as your President.”
In the editorial, titled, Trump Should Be Removed from Office, the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Mark Galli, writes that, “Democrats have had it out for” Mr Trump “from day one.” But he says that, “the facts in this instance are unambiguous: The president of the United States attempted to use his political power to coerce a foreign leader to harass and discredit one of the president’s political opponents. That is not only a violation of the Constitution; more importantly, it is profoundly immoral.”
A far left magazine, or very “progressive,†as some would call it, which has been doing poorly and hasn’t been involved with the Billy Graham family for many years, Christianity Today, knows nothing about reading a perfect transcript of a routine phone call and would rather.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2019
....have a Radical Left nonbeliever, who wants to take your religion & your guns, than Donald Trump as your President. No President has done more for the Evangelical community, and it’s not even close. You’ll not get anything from those Dems on stage. I won’t be reading ET again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2019
He goes on to write that, whether Mr Trump should be removed by the Senate or by popular vote in the 2020 election “is a matter of prudential judgment.”
But, he says: “That he should be removed, we believe, is not a matter of partisan loyalties but loyalty to the Creator of the Ten Commandments.”
Mr Trump is deeply popular among Evangelicals, with roughly 7 in 10 white evangelical Protestants saying they approve of the way he is handling his job as president, according to Pew Research Centre polling from earlier this year. And many prominent Evangelicals have stood by him – despite a coloured personal history, allegations of sexual misconduct, deeply divisive policies and profanity-laced comments.
That includes Graham’s son, Rev. Franklin Graham.
Galli said Mr Trump’s characterisation of the magazine as far left was “far from accurate,” but also said he is realistic about the impact of his words.
“I don’t have any imagination that my editorial is going to shift their views on this matters,” Galli said of those who support the president. “The fact of the matter is Christianity Today is not read by … evangelicals on the far right, so they’re going to be as dismissive of the magazine as President Trump has shown to be.”
TRUMP CALLS IMPEACHMENT A HOAX
US President Donald Trump has said he “doesn’t feel like he’s being impeached”, accusing the Democrats of being “set up”.
In a press conference at the White House today, he also called the impeachment a “hoax”.
“It’s a horrible thing they did,” he said.
“It doesn’t feel like an impeachment … it’s an ugly word and they cheapened the word.”
His comments come as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell threatened to cancel Donald Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate if “scared” Speaker Nancy Pelosi refuses to send him the formal articles of impeachment that Democrats passed.
“It’s beyond me how the Speaker and Democratic Leader in the Senate think withholding the articles of impeachment and not sending them over gives them leverage,” he said.
“Frankly, I’m not anxious to have the trial. If she thinks her case is so weak she doesn’t want to send it over, throw me into that briar patch.”
Top Senate Republican in the US House denounced Mr Trump’s impeachment as “unfair” and reassured Mr Trump and his supporters that “moments like this are why the United States Senate exists.”
Mr Trump said “If the Do Nothing Democrats decide, in their great wisdom, not to show up, they would lose by Default!”
In a speech on Thursday morning (local time), Senator McConnell, accused Mrs Pelosi of being afraid to send “their shoddy work product to the Senate” after she threw uncertainty into the impeachment process by refusing to say when she would send two impeachment articles to the Senate for a trial.
A trial in the Republican-controlled Senate would almost certainly result in Mr Trump being acquitted of the charges.
Mr McConnell described Mr Trump’s impeachment as “the most rushed, least thorough, and most unfair impeachment inquiry in modern history.”
“The framers built the Senate to provide stability,” Mr McConnell said. “To keep partisan passions from boiling over. Moments like this are why the United States Senate exists.”
Ms Pelosi has so far declined to say when she would send the articles to the Republican-led Senate. Until the articles are submitted, the Senate cannot hold the trial.
PRESIDENTIAL HARASSMENT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2019
“The Senate shall set the time and place of the trial.†If the Do Nothing Democrats decide, in their great wisdom, not to show up, they would lose by Default!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2019
100% Republican Vote. That’s what people are talking about. The Republicans are united like never before!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2019
While Mr Trump described impeachment as “presidential harassment”, he did insist it had “united” Republicans “like never before.”
“I got Impeached last might without one Republican vote being cast with the Do Nothing Dems on their continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in American history,” Mr Trump tweeted.
“100% Republican Vote. That’s what people are talking about. The Republicans are united like never before!” he wrote.
Wall Street stocks pushed to fresh records, shrugging off a historic US impeachment vote and focusing on heightened hopes for easing trade tensions with China.
All three major indices advanced to new records, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average finishing with a gain of 0.5 per cent at 28,376.96.
The broadbased S & P 500 also rose 0.5 per cent to 3,205.23, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 0.7 per cent to 8,867.22, its sixth straight record.
The Australian share market lost an early lead from Wall Street to make it consecutive days in the red, but still had its best week in three after a strong start to the pre-Christmas week.
The benchmark S & P/ASX200 index finished today 16.8 points, or 0.25 per cent, lower at 6,816.3 points, while the broader All Ordinaries slipped 16.5 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 6,926.1 points.
The Aussie dollar is buying 68.89 US cents from 68.79 US cents on Thursday.
PUTIN DEFENDS TRUMP
Russian President Vladimir Putin has defended Mr Trump, calling the impeachment process against the embattled US President “far-fetched”.
Mr Trump, who again lambasted the decision on Thursday, calling it “presidential harassment”, became just the third American president to be impeached in a historic vote in the US House of Representatives on Wednesday night (local time).
At his annual press conference in Moscow, Mr Putin said the vote is merely the latest move in the US Democrats’ ongoing war against Mr Trump.
“The party that lost the (2016) election, the Democratic Party, is trying to achieve results by other means,” Mr Putin said.
He likened Mr Trump’s impeachment to the earlier US probe into collusion with Russia, which Mr Putin downplayed as being groundless.
Mr Putin noted that the impeachment motion “is yet to pass the Senate where the Republicans have a majority.”
He added that “they will be unlikely to remove a representative of their own party from office on what seems to me an absolutely far-fetched reason.”
CELEBS CELEBRATE ‘IMPEACHMAS’
Meanwhile, celebrities on both sides of the political divide took to social media to either celebrate or commiserate.
Not surprisingly, the vast majority were thrilled the impeachment news, as the likes of Cher, John Legend and Elizabeth Banks all sprouted gleefully over social media.
Impeached.
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) December 19, 2019
Time for a celebration
— Cole M. Sprouse (@colesprouse) December 19, 2019
Sleeeeep im-heavenly-peaaaachhhhh. SLEEeep im-heavenlllly-peachhhh. #happyholidays2019
— Cole M. Sprouse (@colesprouse) December 19, 2019
Musician Legend said the Senate should convict Mr Trump and remove him from office.
Hunger Games star Elizabeth Banks wished her followers a “Merry Impeachmas”.
Cher merely tweeted her “favourite” song, “Oh, Happy Day”. “It’s how I feel,” the anti-Trump star tweeted.
Singer and actress Bette Midler, long an outspoken Trump critic, shared a simple message online, writing: “Impeached.”
On the flip side, actor Jon Voight, long a vocal supporter of Mr Trump, posted a video with a message of faith.
Sad! #WeThePeople #MerryImpeachmas https://t.co/r210WdyANO
— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) December 19, 2019
OH. HAPPY DAY OH HAPPY DAY - Google Search
— Cher (@cher) December 19, 2019
One Of My Favorites Ever✨âï¸âœ¨
its how i feel
https://t.co/aflJV6KYrt
What a time to be alive
— Jordyn Woods (@jordynwoods) December 19, 2019
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
— Feelin Good As Hell (@lizzo) December 19, 2019
The only thing that hurts is this country is divided by hatred fueled from people like you.. why don’t u do better and give ya boy some advice on telling the truth, he’s gonna need it. https://t.co/E8SlndHDHa
— Feelin Good As Hell (@lizzo) December 19, 2019
Anyways, I’m having a great day! ðŸ˜
— Feelin Good As Hell (@lizzo) December 19, 2019
“This left wing lacks truth,” Voight said, “and are afraid of Trump’s truth to save this country. … The left are afraid of the ‘true truths’ that President Trump has brought forth.”
Fellow actor Dean Cain also came to Mr Trump’s defence, saying: “This partisan, political impeachment is an embarrassment.”
Actress Kristy Swanson also backed the US President, having a dig at Hollywood stars celebrating the impeachment. “Not a sad and solemn impeachment like you all claimed?” she wrote in a string of pro-Trump tweets.
In God We Trust pic.twitter.com/xbMCTDhgp4
— Jon Voight (@jonvoight) December 19, 2019
This partisan, political impeachment is an embarrassment. pic.twitter.com/MdWDSXQlh0
— Dean Cain (@RealDeanCain) December 18, 2019
Not a sad and solemn impeachment like you all claimed? https://t.co/7YsdJ255ns
— Kristy Swanson (@KristySwansonXO) December 19, 2019
But actress and left-wing activist Alyssa Milano revealed she wasn’t nearly as happy as she thought she’d be.
“I expected this moment but I expected to be more joyful,” she tweeted. “Maybe jump up & do a happy dance. Maybe.”
“But I’m just sad and heartbroken,” Milano admitted. “What he’s left behind can’t be erased with this vote. The bigotry and xenophobia he’s emboldened. The lies. It will take generations to recover.”
I expected this moment but I expected to be more joyful. Maybe jump up & do a happy dance. Maybe.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 19, 2019
But I’m just sad and heartbroken. What he’s left behind can’t be erased with this vote.
The bigotry and xenophobia he’s emboldened. The lies.
It will take generations to recover.
done. amen. god bless America pic.twitter.com/TJdrakRo1V
— ROSIE (@Rosie) December 19, 2019
Riverdale star Cole Sprouse, however, was in much happier spirits.
“Time for a celebration,” he wrote online.
He also shared a cheeky reference to a classic Christmas tune.
“Sleeeeep im-heavenly-peaaaachhhhh,” he said, referring to the lyrics of Christmas carol, Silent Night.
Trump has been impeached on both counts against him: Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress pic.twitter.com/Cwy4zeVjKx
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) December 19, 2019
IMPEACHED? pic.twitter.com/nMXhFaw6lF
— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) December 19, 2019
“SLEEeep im-heavenlllly-peachhhh. #happyholidays2019.”
“What a time to be alive,” noted reality star Jordyn Woods.
Singer Lizzo seemed to express some genuine confusion.
“WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?” she asked in all capital letters.
We have never had a President impeached while out campaigning acting as if nothing is going on back on Capitol Hill. It's fascinating. Now he will run as an impeached President for re-election. Historic. #ImpeachmentDay
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) December 19, 2019
Dangerous precedent...gonna cause a major tit for tat retaliation now for whomever is in power..fasten your seatbelts, it’s gonna be a bumpy decade
— Kirstie Alley (@kirstiealley) December 19, 2019
“We have never had a President impeached while out campaigning acting as if nothing is going on back on Capitol Hill,” Maria Shriver, wife of Hollywood superstar – and noted Republican – Arnold Schwarzenegger, tweeted.
“It’s fascinating. Now he will run as an impeached President for re-election. Historic. #ImpeachmentDay.”
Actor John Cusack pointed out Mr Trump's constant swipes at US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.
“He’s obsessed with women coming to get him. Pelosi living in his head.”
Still, actors like Frozen star Josh Gad focused on the importance of voting in the 2020 US election.
There are not alternative facts. There are only facts. The sky is blue. The world is round. Water is wet. And the most Criminally Corrupt President in our Nation’s history has committed High Crimes & Misdemeanors & will be Impeached by The United States House Of Representatives.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) December 18, 2019
There are not alternative facts. There are only facts. The sky is blue. The world is round. Water is wet. And the most Criminally Corrupt President in our Nation’s history has committed High Crimes & Misdemeanors & will be Impeached by The United States House Of Representatives.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) December 18, 2019
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, TWITTER https://t.co/BbJDW8tw7u
— Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) December 19, 2019
“Don’t gloat. Vote,” he said. “Too much depends on this next election. If you care about having health care with pre-existing conditions, if you care about having a habitable planet, if you care about the rule of law, if you care about lower prescription drugs, if you care about gun violence, vote.”
And actress Kirstie Alley warned Americans about what’s to come following the impeachment.
“Dangerous precedent, she warned. “Gonna cause a major tit for tat retaliation now for whoever is in power … fasten your seatbelts, it’s gonna be a bumpy decade.”
VOTE SPLITS NATION
It comes as the historic vote split along party lines, much the way it has divided the US, over a charge that the 45th president abused the power of his office by enlisting a foreign government to investigate a political rival ahead of the 2020 election.
The House then approved a second charge, that he obstructed Congress in its investigation. The articles of impeachment, the political equivalent of an indictment, now go to the Republican-controlled Senate next month, which will likely clear him of any wrongdoing.
The House voted 230-197 to charge Mr Trump with abuse of power and 229-198 on the obstruction of Congress charge.
Two Democrats, New Jersey’s Jeff Van Drew and Minnesota’s Collin Peterson, voted against impeachment on both counts, while Maine Democrat Jared Golden voted no on obstruction.
Democratic candidate for the 2020 race, Tulsi Gabbard, sensationally decided to abstain, saying she was “standing in the centre.”
Meanwhile, all 197 House Republicans voted along party lines and opposed impeachment.
Democrats accuse Mr Trump of using his position to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden, and his son, Hunter, in return for hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid.
The proposed investigation involved Hunter Biden’s involvement with controversial Ukrainian natural gas company, Burisma, while then-vice president Joe Biden was overseeing America’s Ukraine policy.
Mr Trump denies that a July 25 phone call with newly-elected Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky where he asked for a “favour” was improper.
He claims his request to ensure an investigation into the Biden family was not to damage Mr Biden as the Democrat frontrunner in 2020 but was instead on behalf of the US.
Mr Trump hit back at the impeachment vote at a rally in Battle Creek, Michigan, directing his anger at Democrats.
“You are declaring open war on American democracy,” he said.
“You are the ones obstructing justice, you are the ones bringing pain and suffering to our republic”.
In a sign of things to come, Mr Trump used the impeachment vote as a rallying cry to galvanise Republican support, saying the party “has never been so affronted” but has “never been so united.”
Just like the impeachment of former US presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, Mr Trump is expected to be acquitted in the Senate.
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A two-thirds majority of those present in the 100-member chamber would be needed to convict Mr Trump and see him removed from office, meaning at least 20 Republicans would be required to cross the floor.
Republicans will also control the format of the Senate trial, set to be held six days a week for more than a month from early January, and are considering voting on a verdict before hearing any evidence.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused Democrat demands to call several Trump administration officials as witnesses, including former national security adviser John Bolton and White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney.
Polls show that Americans are divided down the line on impeachment, with a national NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finding that 48 per cent are in favour of impeachment, while 48 per cent are against.
However, a USA Today/Suffolk University poll released this week provided a boost for Mr Trump, showing his support over recent months had increased and put him ahead of all five of the Democrats’ top challengers, by margins ranging from 3 to 10 points.
Mr Biden performed best against Mr Trump, losing by just 3 percentage points.
Mr Trump’s main 2020 rivals all welcome the successful impeachment vote in the House.
Mr Biden tweeted that it was “a solemn moment for our country.”
“President Trump abused his power, violated his oath of office, and betrayed our nation,” he wrote.
“In the United States of America, no one is above the law — not even the President.”
While impeachment proceedings have the potential to strip the presidency from Mr Trump, they are a huge political risk for Democrats.
An unsuccessful trial would almost certainly help propel the Republican leader back into a second term at next year’s election, further energising his supporters who are frustrated by constant investigations and allegations of impropriety from his opponent.
The Democrats will push on with their sixth presidential primary debate on Thursday US time in Los Angeles, with seven candidates qualifying.
– with AP, staff writers
Originally published as Christianity Today writes editorial saying Donald Trump should be removed from office after impeachment
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