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US President Trump used tear gas to drive peaceful demonstrators away to pose in front of a church. Leading clergy react with horror. But believing Americans are among Trump's regular clientele.
By Claudia Sarre, ARD Studio Washington
A scene that should go down in US history books. President Trump has tear gas fired up the footpath to a church near the White House. He lets peaceful demonstrators with brutal police force out of the way in order to - and his entourage - symbolically staged for a photo. With the Bible in the raised hand, but without prayer or conciliatory words. This gesture caused widespread criticism across the country - especially from his political challenger Joe Biden, an avowed Catholic.
"All for a photo op, a photo op! In front of one of the oldest churches in Washington! The President seems to be more interested in the power and satisfaction of his base than in the welfare of the people."
What was obviously intended as a demonstration of power and a public expression of solidarity with Christians in the country was not well received by many church representatives.
Bishop Michael Curry, president of the US Episcopal Church, wrote on Twitter that Trump had used a church and the Holy Bible for partisan purposes. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Diocese of Washington also said on CNN that Trump's message was completely contrary to church teaching.
"Using the Bible and appearing there in front of the churches was an abuse of sacred symbols. Trump has made God and the Church his own. His words and actions are contrary to the teachings of Jesus."
Pastor Gini Gerbasi of Georgetown was among the Washington protesters who had peacefully protested racism and police violence. Trump has turned a sacred place into a battlefield, the minister said on CNN.
"Pushing peaceful people away like that was disgusting. And then standing in front of a church and using it for your own purposes was desecrating the church."
The Catholic Archbishop of Washington, Wilton Gregory, also sharply criticized Trump. The president was not welcome at the shrine for Pope John Paul II. Nevertheless, Trump and his wife Melania laid a wreath there yesterday. The evangelical pastor Robert Jefress from Dallas, Texas, on the other hand, explicitly praised Trump's photo shoot in front of the church. Jefress is considered a Trump pastor and had led the service in St. John's Church the day he took office.
"President Trump's behavior was absolutely correct. By standing in front of the church, he was not only showing his solidarity with this church, but with all the churches in the country. And he made clear his intention to protect churches from those who are trying to destroy them. "
Trump's republican base - including his evangelical followers - remains firmly behind the US president. And many political observers estimate that nothing will change in the foreseeable future.
