I have a friend who has mostly been very pro-Trump for years, but sometimes falters in his support because he sees Trump as too pro-LGBT (he was considering switching support to DeSantis earlier this year for that reason). In a nutshell, he is a devout Evangelical Christian (Church of Christ) and has obsessive-compulsive disorder, the combination of which leads him to be laser-focused on homosexuality as the #1 thing he is against. He's within a hair's breadth of being a one-issue voter on the subject, and he sees anyone giving even the slightest condonement of homosexuality as a grave issue and the mark of one who has forsaken Godliness and Biblical truth in search of the World's favor.
He is now upset that the Republican Party has allegedly updated its platform to be pro-gay, supposedly due to Trump's influence.
He sent me emails in which he said the GOP is being taken over by the LGBT movement and is becoming evil. One of the emails contained this link:
https://x.com/realJennaEllis/status/1812944006592299084
In case you don't want to click the link, it's a tweet by Jenna Ellis reading as follows:
President of Log Cabin Republicans thanks Donald Trump for stripping the GOP platform of all “anti-LGBT” language.
Says “inclusion won!”
Your new GOP: woke godless populism."
Another of his emails had these two links:
https://x.com/Mark_McEathron/status/1813063651106193822
The tweet above features the infamous Hillary Clinton balloon reaction GIF and reads:
"Pro-Abortion Speakers Pro-LGBTQ Speakers Union Boss Speakers Slut Life Speakers
Is the GOP the 1990's Democrat Party now?"
https://x.com/ShannonJoyRadio/status/1813038321083597286
And the final tweet above features the Shannon Joy quote:
"Trump is a true champion for the LGBTQ movement!"
...and Joy's quote-tweet of a Charles T. Moran tweet reading:
"It’s official! The national GOP platform has been stripped of all anti-LGBT language! Inclusion won! Thank you @realDonaldTrump!"
He also sent me yet another email, containing this tweet:
https://x.com/LovemyFLGov/status/1813060685447745686
Which reads:
The Republican Party is moving left. I’m not going with them. I’m also not drooling and slobbering over Trump and his VP pick. I praise God that Trump did not get killed but I haven’t joined the cult.
He also sent an email titled "Demon GOP", which including a link to this tweet:
https://x.com/LaurenWitzkeDE/status/1813111478536270022
...which reads:
I turned the Harmeet Dhilon witchcraft off.
Worship of any other than Christ is as good as worshipping a demon.
Shame on the GOP.
He also asked me this:
"Donald Trump condones homosexuality, doesn't he?"
Firstly, how accurate is the "GOP is turning gay" narrative? I'm suspicious as to how accurate it is.
Secondly, how much influence did Trump truly have on this if it's true? Once again, I'm not automatically assuming a narrative is true just because the media is pushing it.
And thirdly and most importantly, what would be the best way to defend Trump to my friend in this situation? Keep in mind that he does not take kindly to "live and let live"-type arguments regarding homosexuality and especially gay marriage, viewing them as weakness leading straight down a combination slippery slope/road to hell. If by any chance you're familiar with the YouTuber/Twitter personality Melonie Mac, he's similar to her in views.
Your friend is not wrong.
It's long past time to ditch the republican party and start a true American nationalist movement, based on American values. Something like the Whig party but not so naive.
The fact that a certain group of people fear for their lives should Americans ever control their government again gives you all the information you need.
I don't particularly care what he thinks of the Republican Party (I myself ascribe to George Washington's belief that there should be no political parties), but I do believe that Trump is currently a tremendous force for good and I'm trying to find a way to defend him to him.
You can't. You really can't.
If Trump ran on Americanism, he wouldn't be allowed on TV at all.
Instead, Trump has to further "the cause" if he wants to get any air time at all.
Trump is not going to save America. Anyone who thinks he can is retarded and ignorant of history. There is only one Person who can save America, and we have to put our trust (faith) in Him alone.
So don't defend Trump. Especially to strong Christians. Just tell them to put their faith in Christ and cast their ballot according to their best conscience.