“Watchman, what is left of the night?
The watchman replies,
“Morning is coming, but also the night.
If you would ask, then ask;
and come back yet again.” (Is. 21:11-12)

Much though one would like to swing the camera away from America, there is inevitably a great deal to process and pray for in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s election victory. Its impact will affect people all over the world.

Some forward-thinking businesses recognise the need for a ‘Disruptor-in-Chief’ to help them overcome inertia and outdated systems. Trump has set himself the task of disrupting American politics, and it is certainly true that there are very few areas of life that will not be changed under his second term in office. But what is the spirit that underlies his desire for, and process of disruption?

In our last edition, we published an article called Tracking the Trajectory in which we took a look at what the ‘kingdom’ of America might look like under Donald Trump, given the direction of his campaign and character. As he announces his policies and cabinet nominees, his intentions are abundantly clear.

In a recent newsletter, Heather Cox Richardson* ably demonstrates the way in which the team Donald Trump has chosen for his new administration poses a huge threat to the democratic and internal stability of America. It is quite obvious that he has chosen his team more for retribution than for their experience, competence or of efficiency, let alone for their personal integrity although it does include a number who one might call ‘Wall Street savvy’ rather than MAGA picks, to lend a small measure of stability to some of his economic policies.

Whether by accident or design, there are competing interests amongst these nominees, though. Trump won’t mind this, because although they will fight amongst themselves (and don’t forget how vast these departments are), ultimately they will all do what he tells them to do. We are into an entirely different climate-regime now, in which a lot of people appear dangerous ‘drunk with power.’ May I encourage you to read Heather’s article and turn its key points into prayer?

Trump’s intentions exceed the expectations of his supporters, and appear particularly alarming because his nominees include many who are loyal rather than competent for the role he has in mind for them. He is threatening, to borrow the words of the Argentinian anarcho-nationalist Javier Milei who swept to power recently on a similar tide of populism, to take a ‘chainsaw’ to government spending.’

Interestingly, one year into his presidency, Milei’s popularity has, by and large, held up surprisingly well, even as the people are starting to feel the bite of his measures. Trump’s own popularity is likewise continuing to increase rather than abate. But behind every statistic there are people, families and communities who will not feel the benefit of his Presidency.

I take deeply to heart Dwight Eisenhower’s comment that ‘Politics ought to be the part-time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights and privileges of free people and who would preserve what is good and fruitful in our national heritage.’

God cares about people, and politics are ultimately not so much about theories and policies as people. His rules are rules, and He wants us to love His law, but it is people above all whom He loves.

Father, direct our prayers.

Who and what might be disrupted under the new Presidency?

For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; He will save us. (Is. 33:22)

It has been suggested that the Founding Fathers** were inspired by this verse from Isaiah as they pondered how to govern the new nation and came up with the idea of three distinct branches of Federal and State government. They determined that there needed to be ‘a clear separation of powers in these three branches of government,’ in order to protect citizens from ‘despotism.’

Why? Because they were fully persuaded that ‘the heart is more deceitful than all else and desperately wicked. Who can know it?’ (Jer. 17:9)  Thomas Paine, for one, was very concerned that all power should not reside in the hands of just the one person: but that is what has now happened, and, as is so often the case, by the will of the electorate. Trump is the embodiment of Franklin D Roosevelt’s famous epigram, ‘Never underestimate someone who overestimates himself,’ as well as of Thomas Paine’s radical call that began the charge for American colonies to seek to be free from the heavy tax and other burdens that the British crown had put on them.

It was Paine’s words that inspired George Washington to pick up the sword, as he declared in words more prophetic than even he realised that ‘the cause of America is in great measure the cause of all mankind.’

When one reads what Trump and his team have in mind, however, and how their policies are likely to work out, it is clear that many citizens, and even the nation itself, will suffer considerable disruption and trouble. Individuals will suffer: the poor, the sick, immigrants, home buyers and lower income families, Trump’s opponents, amongst many. The American nation will be undermined: American intelligence and the military, trade, democracy, the Constitution, military planning and strategy, diversity and equality, press freedom . . .

Righteousness is being undermined as Trump’s choice of cabinet nominees indicates that he is willing to endorse nepotism, shady deals, lack of experience and qualification, revenge, conspiracy theories, operation outside of the law, and freedom from prosecution for people facing criminal charges.

The spiritual life of the nation, too, which was a key reason why people voted for him, is also under threat because of his repeated attacks on truth, justice, and morality, as well as the idolatrous pursuit of wealth and power.

On a still wider plane again, the whole world will feel the impact of Trump’s presidency: the climate and environment, Ukraine, NATO . . .

But God says:

Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. (Is. 1:17)

When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God. 

He warns of what will happen when, ‘capriciousness’ – mischief, unpredictability and instability – governs:

‘The people will tyrannize each other, man against man, neighbour against neighbour. The young man will behave arrogantly against the elder, and the dishonourable against the honourable.’ (Isaiah 3:4-5 CJB)

Diversity and Equality as God sees them

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”’ (Rev. 7:9-10)

By contrast, Pete Hegseth’s stated main purpose will be to axe all diversity and equality practices within the military, and to remove women from frontline roles. The founder of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Association, considers Hegseth to be “undoubtedly the least qualified nominee for Defence Secretary in American history . . . and the most overtly political.”

Press Freedom

Trump has already sued CBS news for $10,000,000,000 (yes, that is ten billion dollars) claiming that they had failed to reproduce one of his comments precisely. With the case set to appear before a judge who is known to be friendly to such right-wing cases, where will this end? He has also spoken of ABC News deserving to lose its licence to broadcast, along similar grounds and, in his victory speech referred to CNN as the enemy. We have previously warned that rulers that veer towards the dictatorial and the Fascist always start by trying to suppress the press. What else do such initiatives indicate?

Take the sudden decision of two of the most significant newspapers in America, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times, to withdraw (almost at the last moment) their planned endorsement of Kamala Harris – much to the dismay and frustration of their own staff. It’s called ‘anticipatory obedience’ and is a form of self-censorship that is likely to spread, hastening the decline of true democracy.

There was much that was far from transparent or ideal under Barack Obama’s regime, but this important assessment in the Columbian Journalism Review reveals just how much further Trump is pushing this very dangerous trend – even more so that many in the media have realised.

The climate and environment

Trump’s belief that the climate crisis is a hoax is both nonsense and disastrous. He is, of course, expected to repeal most if not all the measures Biden had put in place to protect the climate environment. Many of his cabinet nominees are also of the opinion that the whole environmental agenda is founded on a hoax. The candidate for energy secretary, Chris Wright, has previously announced that ‘there is no climate crisis.’

In a truly shocking analysis of Trump’s political agenda, Carbon Brief, a UK-based website that covers the latest developments in climate science, climate policy and energy policy, suggest that his policies will add a staggering extra 4 billion tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere by 2030, as compared to Biden’s agenda. That is, the equivalent of the ‘combined annual emissions of the EU and Japan, or the combined annual total of the world’s 140 lowest-emitting countries.’ The global climate damage is likely to amount to more than $900bn.

Ukraine

Tulsi Gabard, Donald Trump’s pick for the for Director of National Intelligence is pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian. She has declared that Russia had grounds for invasion and that Ukraine is not a democracy. It is quite clear that America is facing internal dangers beyond anything one could have imagined, with Trump’s nominee set to be in charge of all 18 of America’s most sensitive intelligence agencies, despite, quite possibly, being a Russian asset, with close ties too to Syria and China. This is not only unthinkable but deadly dangerous.

Altered relationships with Truth

Trump and Vance have declared, ‘Say what you like and people will believe it,’ Musk flooded social media with a ‘blizzard’ of lies and deliberate misinformation, and yet it set to occupy a most important role in the administration, that will undoubtedly favour his business interests: a direct conflict of interests that should never, in theory, be allowed to occur. Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, said in a statement, “Musk not only knows nothing about government efficiency and regulation, his own businesses have regularly run afoul of the very rules he will be in position to attack in his new ‘czar’ position. This is the ultimate corporate corruption.”

Trump clearly feels he has the right to decide what information to impart, and what to mislead people concerning, just as he has done for years. He is, of course, only appointing people who side with him in claiming (entirely without evidence) that the 2020 election was stolen.

Idolatry

. . . my beloved, flee from idolatry. (1 Cor. 10:14)

Bob Woodward likened visiting Mar al Lago to visiting North Korea: with members of staff standing to their feet and applauding whenever Trump comes into a room. I believe the idolatrous aspect of all this is of the utmost importance to the Lord in spiritual terms – though whether more so than the ‘idolatry’ of abortion being freely on demand for convenience measures is another matter altogether. Once again, this highlights the terrible options that America has had to choose between.

Justice and the new Attorney General

The latest nominee for the position of Attorney General, Pan Bondi, is experienced in the role but, like all the rest of Trump’s nominees, a Trump loyalist. She is unlikely to provoke opposition in the Senate, but she has already made clear her willingness to prosecute Trump’s prosecutors and to investigate his investigators. We are faced with the prospect of a Justice Department that could very easily become little more than Trump’s personal law firm rather than an independent and impartial wing of righteous government. Given Trump’s predilection for suing everyone in sight, this is a very sad state of things, leaving it free to pursue his campaigns against lawyers, and to impeach politicians who have either opposed or held opinions that clash with his own.

One thing to take note of is that Trump has often called for the death penalty even for those who are innocent.

A distortion of the truth of Christ

As we know, Trump has long operated at a ‘transactional’ level rather than out of heartfelt concern for either issues or people. Many people were encouraged by the fact that Trump closed a meeting recently with the hymn ‘How great Thou art’ having previously encouraged people to read their Bibles (he certainly does not himself)! I remember Melania Trump likewise opening the first Trump presidency by reading aloud the Lord’s prayer. I am less impressed; and not find the spirit behind either of these events convincing – although they have excited many evangelicals who can’t wait to believe that they are in the hands of a godly president.

Knowing that he needed the support of white evangelicals to win elections, Trump soon discovered just how susceptible to flattery they are – and how gullible too. We have mentioned elsewhere in this edition the absurd comparisons that many of Trump’s supporters are making concerning his court appearance on charges of felony with Christ’s appearance before Pilate. The lack of discernment is truly heart-breaking. The sad truth is that a faith that is built entirely on Christ’s loving sacrifice, and on forgiveness, has sprouted political tentacles, in which power and money have combined to foster people buying into a hyper-nationalism that New Testament authors would regard as poisonous.

At another level again, I can’t help reflecting that many pro slavers would certainly have encouraged people to read their Bibles!

Suppressing conscience

Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith. (1 Tim. 1:19)

Before his candidature for the election, a number of top Republicans took advantage of Trump being ‘down and out,’ to say what they really thought of him. Now that he is about to assume power again, some of them are allowing their consciences to be seared, and are embarking on head-over-heels flip-flops to reintegrate themselves into his favour. If ever there was a scurrying around to put matters right, this video clip highlights it all so clearly.

Revenge

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the LORD. (Lev. 19:18)

We are particularly concerned at all the people whom Trump has declared he intends to prosecute, now that he is planning to appoint an Attorney General who will be a political loyalist, dispensing with an independent judiciary.

Trump has already spoken of Liz Cheyney, the deeply Conservative Republican who campaigned with Kamala Harris, facing a military tribunal for her ‘treasonous’ abandonment of him. There has even been talk too of impeachments against Obama and Harris, as well as of suing the lawyers who opposed the new president. Such threats are not to be taken lightly: it is dangerous to assume that a man like Trump does not mean what he says. See this alarming overview in Reuters, ever the least sensational and the most impartial of the news agencies.

Conspiracy theories and lack of qualifications

“Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.” (Is. 8:12)

Another controversial nomination – but one that has been expected for some time – is that of Robert F Kennedy to lead the truly massive Department of Health and Human Services.

We seriously wonder whether Kennedy would be a candidate for this job were it not for his name. His prestigious family does not support him, and he is seen as a non-medical ‘quack scientist’ as well as a big-time conspiracy theorist. Like most of Trump’s other nominees, he lacks experience any in senior management position. The reality of the workload involved in running all these departments is going to prove a considerable shock to many.

The role of the Senate

Since Trump has omitted the usual FBI checks for his team picks, it is up to the Senators to investigate and evaluate them. But choosing to vote against Trump’s candidates is to put one’s career on the line.

Pray for John Thune, the (mercifully) more ‘traditional’ Senate Leader, who will play a vital role in proceedings. He was elected Leader of the Senate as the result of a secret ballot that saw him holding off Trump’s preferred candidate, Tim Scott.

Father, we pray for proper and brave scrutiny to be undertaken concerning the appointment of Trump’s cabinet. We pray against the power of fear and oppression, for right decisions to be taken, undue pressure to be resisted and for many injustices to be averted in the days and years ahead. Strengthen the resolve of those who can yet prevent this from coming to pass, Lord. Please be merciful in not allowing people come to power who will pose a serious threat to the heart and fabric of the American nation. 

For God’s word says:

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. When capriciousness governs, people will tyrannize each other, man against man, neighbour against neighbour. The young man will behave arrogantly against the elder, and the dishonourable against the honourable.

Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them. Lying lips are an abomination to [Me], but those who act faithfully are [My] delight, because [I am] the One who is true.

My beloved, flee from idolatry. Fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith.

Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. Treat him as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself.

(Lev. 19:18; Lev. 19:33-34; Pr. 12:22; Pr. 14:34; Is. 1:17; Is. 8:12; Is.3:4-5; 1 Cor. 10:14; 1 Tim. 1:19; 1 Jn. 5:20)

*As you will have noticed, I have great respect for Heather Cox Richardson, who somehow manages to combine her day job as a Professor of History at Boston College with writing an almost daily ‘Letter from an American.’ Her articles reach nearly two million people, and skilfully home in on key events in the news in such a way as to draw together both a historical context for them and to explain with great lucidity why they are significant. You can sign up to receive these letters directly without charge.

In addition, you may want to acquaint yourself with the basics of ‘Project 25.’ Although Trump distanced himself from it during the election campaign, MAGA allies have confirmed that this 900 page document, spearheaded by the right-wing Heritage Foundation and more than a dozen former Trump administration officials, actually does express the substance of his intentions for his second presidency, including detailed plans to expand executive authority, replace civil servants with ideologically aligned appointees, and impose his much trumpeted anti-immigrant agenda.

**(See the Congressional Record, Volume 147 (2001))