Two weeks into Donald Trump’s presidency, I had to turn off the news alerts on my phone.
Each time I received a news alert, I would get anxious because I did not know what the hell 45 was going to do next. He had already tried to ban folks from coming into the country, and his inner circle of advisers were looking more and more like characters out of an episode of 24—so I decided to engage in self-care. I deleted all the news apps off my device.
In the past 100+ days, America has had a constitutional crisis because of the attempted expansion of executive privilege with the “Muslim ban.” We have seen a stark increase in ICE raids targeting “illegal immigrants,” but, again, lets call it what it is: racial profiling. Further, we have seen a failed attempt to strip millions of Americans of their health coverage. This, ironically, was happening during the MLK holiday, even though King once said: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”
I don’t know how anyone can see what he is doing and judge him as either competent or working for the best interest of everyone in this country. To see his actions and approve of them uncovers a deep moral deficiency. That’s why I was confused by what I heard from a leader in the White evangelical community.
“I think evangelicals have found their dream president,” Jerry Falwell, Jr., president of Liberty University, said on the Fox News show “Justice With Judge Jeanine.”
Falwell said “reuniting Israel with America” and placing “people of faith” in the administration were reasons evangelicals were supportive of Trump. “In fact,” said Judge Jeanine “78% of White evangelicals said they approved of the Job Trump is doing in the White House.”
That took me by surprise—but it shouldn’t have. According to the Pew Research Center, 78% of White evangelicals—that is to say, white folks who say they love a brown skinned, first century Palestinian radical–approve of Trump’s first 100 days in office.
For all of their talk about embodying the love of Jesus Christ, the actions of White evangelicals drown out their words. They may say “love the sinner but hate the sin;” yet, how they treat gay, queer, and trans folks let me know there is nothing but hate in their hearts for people they claim to love. They may say they are pro-life, but the way they vote and who they support informs me that they are hypocrites, comfortable with stripping away healthcare from people ravished by illness while they turn a blind eye to the way the police take Black life with little more than a slap on the wrist as punishment. They may say they are not racist, but they, as a block, approve of a man who is unapologetic in his racist rhetoric and white supremacist policies.
White evangelicals, they mommas and everyone who looks like them don’t know Jesus. And more importantly, one day, if they believe the metaphysics of their theology, he will say that he does not know them either.
A version of this article originally appeared on VerySmartBrothas.com.