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Former President Trump narrowly escaped a second assassination attempt last Sunday. It was a mere six weeks since the first assassination attempt in Butler Pennsylvania. You would think this would be the biggest news story in America – and a unifying moment for the country.
Pray for your fellow intercessor.
But it’s not.
Corporate media is basically saying “move along, nothing to see here.” Meanwhile numerous news outlets, anchors and pundits have claimed that it is Trump’s own “incendiary” rhetoric that has caused these attempts.
In other words, he deserved it.
Corporate Media Blames Trump
CNN went so far as to say after the second attempt that Mr. Trump was “inflaming the situation” by claiming people are shooting at him because of the Biden-Harris-Democrat rhetoric that he is an “existential threat to democracy.”
The Media Research Center analyzed ABC, CBS and NBC newscasts over three nights following the second attempt and found that 95% of the coverage was negative for Mr Trump. This attitude can be summed up with CBS Norah O’Donnell’s reporting claiming, “Donald Trump is blaming Democrats for inflaming political rhetoric, but the former President’s own words seem to be increasing the threat of political violence…”.
In other words, it’s President Trump’s fault people are shooting at him. The rhetoric is not dying down.
Just one day after the second attempt, Hillary Clinton called Mr. Trump “a danger to our country and the world”. In less than two hours after this second attempt, House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) posted on X that MAGA Republicans must be stopped.
Politico wrote that, for Joe Biden it is “routine” to call Trump Hitler. Many Democrats truly believe that Trump is Hitler as evidenced by the very long list of people who call him just that. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) called for Mr. Trump to be “eliminated”.
With the unrelenting drumbeat from liberals, the president and vice-president, and corporate media claiming democracy will end if Trump is elected and this could be our last election, are we really surprised that people are acting violently to “save democracy?”
Recent polling on American attitudes on political violence is truly disturbing
According to a survey conducted in June (before the first assassination attempt on President Trump on July 13), the Chicago Project on Security and Threats reported that 10% of all U.S. adults, or 26 million people, think it’s okay to use force to prevent Mr. Trump from becoming president.
On the flip side, 7% of adults, or 18 million people, think force is justified to restore Mr. Trump to the presidency.
And 44%, or a staggering 113 million people, may not support political violence, but they do not condemn it.
So only 2 out of 5 Americans are condemning political violence in America. That was 3 months ago.
A new poll released on Wednesday by Scott Rasmussen’s RMG Research and conducted after the second attempt at the West Palm Beach golf course revealed that 1 in 3 Democrats thought America would be better off if Trump had been killed on the golf course. Another 24% of Democrats were uncertain.
Mr. Rasmussen said, “It is hard to imagine a greater threat to democracy than expressing a desire to have your political opponent murdered.”
Mr. Trump now has full presidential-level Secret Service protection.
An Age of Rage
Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor, claims we are living in an “Age of Rage”. Rage rhetoric in our civil discourse is rising and is “permeating every aspect of our society and politics.”
While each side blames the other for its’ rise, we Christians know who is truly to blame. That would be the author of blinding rage, hatred and deception – Satan, who is the god of this world. His goal it to engulf the whole world in darkness and inflame the people with his hatred.
It is the devil who is our enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1Peter 5:8) He leads the whole world astray. (Revelation 12:9) He is filled with fury. (Revelation 9:12) He wages war against those who keep God’s commands and hold fast to their testimony of Jesus. (Revelation 9:17) He deceives the minds and hearts of people, so they are unable to see the glorious light of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
This Satanic rage is being manifest today – not just in our politics, but in the pro-Hamas protests, the mass shootings, and the rising crime in our streets and neighborhoods. Satan is putting these destructive thoughts into the minds of people.
They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. (Ephesians 4:18)
There’s no way that rational people would speak and act in violence without demonic interference. These poor souls are not evil, but they have been overcome with evil. There is an evil force behind them, coloring their thoughts and speech. Because of Satan’s grip, the “Age of Rage” is increasing rapidly.
If ever there was a time for Christians to remember Ephesians 6:12, it’s now.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Let us pray
Pray for repentance for allowing our politics to devolve into fear, division and insults… and not be about the righteous policies honoring God and strengthening America’s freedoms. Too much of our public debate is about insulting political opponents. Let us pray for a return to discussing the issues that most impact Americans, and not personalities.
Let us pray that the politicians and their voters who have depended on fear and division to gain or retain power will end their destructive discourse and seek God’s will for our nation. Write to your Congressman and other elected officials demanding they refrain from personal attacks and incendiary language
We must remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:44 commanding us to bless our enemies. Pray that we will not turn people we disagree with politically into enemies. Instead, pray for the heart of Jesus to love every political opponent as He does.
Let us pray for wise leaders who will serve the Lord with fear. (Psalm 2) Pray they would seek God’s righteousness and truth in how they conduct their lives. Let us pray that politicians would put forth policies pleasing to God
Let us pray continued protection for President Trump, Senator Vance, Vice-President Harris and Governor Walz. Pray they will not fear the terror of night, or the arrow that flies by day. (Psalm 91: 5) Pray they will acknowledge the Lord who will protect and deliver them. (Psalm 91:14)
Let us pray that God would rebuke those with murderous intentions and break the weapons of the violent.
Let us pray in the powerful name of Jesus to bind the evil spirits, powers and forces unleashing this blinding rage upon the nation and the world. Rebuke the spirits interfering in this election and hardening hearts with hatred, fear and division. Ask for a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit on our land.
Pray for the lies to be exposed, for truth to be revealed, and for God to be exalted in our nation. Pray for revival in America.
Add your own prayers in the comments below.
Belinda Brewster analyzes cultural, political, and world events from a biblical worldview. Belinda’s passion is to equip, support, and encourage parents and grandparents who are courageously battling against the spiritual and cultural forces impacting children and grandchildren. Photo Credit: Kayle Kaupanger on Unsplash.