In an interview about his new book with John Zmirak for the online publication, The Stream, Eric Metaxas doubled down on his support for Donald Trump. After much talk implying that evangelical Christianity is the only foundation for virtue, he claims Trump is “our only hope.”
John: This current election is deeply dissatisfying to many Christian voters. How would you answer those who see Hillary Clinton as a grave threat, but fear that Trump lacks the virtue (much less the religion) to lead a free people? Even if he’s the lesser of two evils, is his rise a symptom of our fading virtue and faith?
Eric: Yes, Donald Trump’s rise is certainly a symptom of our fading virtue and faith, but ironically he may well be our only hope for finding our way back to bolder expressions of them. The eerie waxworks automaton formerly known as Hillary Rodham Clinton will no doubt double down on President Obama’s two-term repulsion to Constitutional government, in which unutterably sad case we simply wouldn’t ever be able to claw our way back up the abyss into which we shall have been thrust. If two more anti-Constitutionalist judges are shoehorned onto the Supreme Court we will have a Constitutional crisis — actually a cataclysm — in which the last Justices of that hoary institution will take that thing once described by a Constitutionalist Executive as the “government of the people, by the people, for the people” and place it into a coffin gaily decorated with smiley face and rainbow stickers.
It is uncanny to me that Metaxas puts his trust in one man and a deeply flawed man at that.
I say again that his book is pointless if at the end of the day Trump is our best hope.* In fact, based on his reasoning for supporting Trump, he really doesn’t believe in the value of virtue and faith. He fully trusts in a conservative majority on the Supreme Court. If we can get that, then all is well. If we can’t, then who cares about a virtuous people, the cataclysm cometh.
In response to Metaxas’ Trump endorsement, some folks expressed disbelief and disappointment on Twitter.
Eric Metaxas endorsed Trump so can we stop pretending that he understands Bonhoeffer at all?
— Dwight Davis (@tdwightdavis) June 15, 2016
I'm surprised and disappointed that @ericmetaxas endorsed Trump. WWBD (What Would Bonhoeffer Do?) https://t.co/ICs5vMo04i
— Brian G. Hedges (@brianghedges) June 18, 2016
Is racism the foible? Or would that be more of a peccadillo? No no, the hate mongering must be the peccadillo.https://t.co/QYJMrB9gYz
— Eddie Kaufholz (@EdwardorEddie) June 17, 2016
So @ericmetaxas says we need virtuous leadership & therefore "must vote Trump." My response: LOL https://t.co/2Mx05sFCWj
— Tyler Braun (@tylerbraun) June 17, 2016
Eric Metaxas Explained https://t.co/YtVSkUGXNf via @drejwest
— Jim West (@drjewest) June 17, 2016
Putting his lack of wisdom on display for all to see, @EricMetaxas says, "we must vote for Trump." https://t.co/ElxWrujXyB #NoisyCymbal
— Nick Laparra (@NickLaparra) June 17, 2016
author who extols virtue says vote for virtuelessness… https://t.co/vRG3KT6hPc
— Andrew T. Walker (@andrewtwalk) June 17, 2016
Terribly disappointed @ericmetaxas if Trump truly is "our last best hope" we've already losthttps://t.co/rGWmHIamiW#NeverHillaryNeverTrump
— Kamilla Ludwig ن (@TheBraveLass) June 17, 2016
"@ericmetaxas needs to withdraw his book because there is absolutely nothing in it we need." https://t.co/FHkyrPwdH2
— Zachary Moore (@drzach) June 18, 2016
@ericmetaxas should re-read-read his Bonhoeffer book before supporting @realDonaldTrump: National Review #gutless https://t.co/urLEz4z3vC
— Jay Madden (@jmadden67) June 17, 2016
https://t.co/We1TFbdjBz pic.twitter.com/QOsqtLAOeQ
— O. Alan Noble (@TheAlanNoble) June 17, 2016
@TheAlanNoble @ericmetaxas Are racism, misogyny, and a complete disregard for the law foibles, peccadilloes, or metaphorical warts?
— (((BrendtWWaters))) (@bwsqrd) June 17, 2016
One of the saddest casualties of the Trump campaign is my respect for Eric Metaxas…
— Andrew Blalock (@AndrewDBlalock) June 17, 2016
@wthrockmorton smh
— Russell Moore (@drmoore) June 17, 2016
*If You Can Keep It is also plagued by historical errors which I pointed out here, here and here.