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LetMyPeopleVote

(174,961 posts)
Mon Dec 22, 2025, 12:34 PM Dec 22

Maddowblog-Trump flubs what 'separation of church and state' means in targeting Raphael Warnock

“Mr. President, my faith is not a weapon, it’s a bridge, and I invite you to Bible study,” the Georgia Democrat replied.

Trump’s attack on Raphael Warnock was tiresome and forgettable, except for one thing:

It showed Trump doesn’t understand the separation of church and state at a basic level. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-12-18T22:27:17.976Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-flubs-what-separation-of-church-and-state-means-in-targeting-raphael-warnock

Donald Trump apparently wasn’t impressed. Three days after the interview aired, the president published a message to his social media platform that began:

Raphael Warnock was on Meet the Fake Press with a one sided and very biased Kristen Welker as the Host(ess!). Warnock spent the entire show using Religion to try and divide the Country! If a Republican, in particular ME, made those statements, it would be FRONT PAGE NEWS. He ended by saying that he was going to his Church to preach now, and while I think that’s fine, I do say, ‘What ever happened to separation of Church and State?


As part of the same online harangue, the Republican went on to smear the senator and attack NBC, before concluding, “The Public airwaves, which these Networks are using at no charge, should not be allowed to get away with this any longer!”

For now, let’s put aside the obvious fact that Warnock’s on-air message wasn’t the least bit divisive. What instead stuck me as notable is that the incumbent president, after nearly five years in the White House, still doesn’t appear to understand the basics of the constitutional principle of church-state separation......
If, however, Trump is looking for actual examples of officials crossing the church-state line that he’s suddenly taken an interest in, I’d refer him to the recent Christian prayer services sponsored by the Department of Labor, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Defense Department, each of which reflected an unsettling break with government neutrality on matters of faith.

As for Warnock, the Georgia Democrat apparently saw Trump’s online rant and took the time to respond.

“He’s got a lot of nerve,” the senator said in a statement. “Remember, this is the same president who literally had peaceful protesters gassed and beaten so he could stand in front of a church holding a Bible up. He ought to read that Bible that he was holding up on that day. That Bible says that Jesus came to preach good news to the poor. He came to heal the sick. He never billed them for his services. He stood up for the weak, the marginalized, average, ordinary people.”

Warnock concluded, “Mr. President, my faith is not a weapon, it’s a bridge, and I invite you to Bible study. Maybe you can meet the Jesus I know. In the meantime, I’m going to keep fighting for the people.”
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Maddowblog-Trump flubs what 'separation of church and state' means in targeting Raphael Warnock (Original Post) LetMyPeopleVote Dec 22 OP
Is there anyone who TSF won't attack? johnnyfins Dec 22 #1
He won't attack Putin, Kim, Xi, Erdoğan, etc... SeattleVet Dec 22 #6
Meh, it IS trump being an intentional divisive asshole, but in his defense Volaris Dec 22 #2
That's what you get when you only hold up the most extremist factions slightlv Dec 22 #5
Reality and fantasy are melding in his brain rurallib Dec 22 #3
Trump doesn't know fuck about shit. Swede Dec 22 #4
No mention of MAGA MIke Johnson? Ruby the Liberal Dec 23 #7

johnnyfins

(3,441 posts)
1. Is there anyone who TSF won't attack?
Mon Dec 22, 2025, 12:52 PM
Dec 22

He sees all things through the lens of his own ego, then projects any criticism of him as being bad for the country. He is NOT the country. Neither are his followers. He loves to call other elected reps divisive, but he cannot recognize how divisive HE is. Gaslighting at its worst...

SeattleVet

(5,832 posts)
6. He won't attack Putin, Kim, Xi, Erdoğan, etc...
Mon Dec 22, 2025, 02:53 PM
Dec 22

just the other dictators he deeply admires for their 'strength'.

Volaris

(11,401 posts)
2. Meh, it IS trump being an intentional divisive asshole, but in his defense
Mon Dec 22, 2025, 01:32 PM
Dec 22

half the Supreme Court doesn't appear to understand it, either.
Just sayin'

slightlv

(7,438 posts)
5. That's what you get when you only hold up the most extremist factions
Mon Dec 22, 2025, 02:37 PM
Dec 22

of religion... Opus Dei, Dominionism (NAR), etc. These factions don't believe in tolerance of other faiths... they brook no disagreement in dogma. It's their way or hell... and they'll make the latter happen if you don't submit.

I HATE donald trump. Once upon a time, that feeling was so alien to me, I couldn't have described it to you if you asked. No longer. But... to DT, I will say he was NEVER raised in a religious home. He didn't go to church. The closest he came was the "Power of Positive Thinking". I know the book, my grandmother (an actual preacher) had it in her library. It's religiously xtian based, but not a part of any religious path. That is, unless you want to accuse DT of being a Witch. I say this because I found the book to be based more on spellcraft and the "Act as If" principle more than anything else. But believe me, we witches won't claim him, either! Has too much of the xtian devil and evil in him to even be using any spellwork.

Ruby the Liberal

(26,600 posts)
7. No mention of MAGA MIke Johnson?
Tue Dec 23, 2025, 08:57 AM
Dec 23

Wouldn't be that he (and his cohort) aren't black Democrats, would it?

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