Symptoms of TDS
We have a continuing problem in the American church.
This problem is Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS).
A phrase coined to describe those on the Left and their attitude toward Trump, TDS is a disease that has infected many Americans, including many American churchgoers. The symptoms of this disease include possessing irrational thought, seeing Trump as a grave threat, and being unable to see any of the good he’s accomplished as President. This problem can be seen recently in remarks from well-known evangelical David French as he commented on Trump’s presidency:
“Think about how contrary this is to the example of Jesus because Jesus comes to ancient Israel when it’s under Roman occupation where the people of Israel are deeply oppressed. He doesn’t come and overthrow the government. He doesn’t come and rule these Christian right people want to rule he comes and he loves other people. He serves other people. He even forgives the people who are executing him as they are executing him. Yet you look at the Christian right, this MAGA Christian right, it is will to power. It is cruelty. It is dominance. Look how they applaud as Trump is cruel to immigrants, just vicious, depriving them of their Constitutional rights. Nothing about this is drawn from historical Christian theology.”
It’s not only progressive evangelicals like French saying things such as this, but I regularly come across barrages of criticisms directed at our current President. The endless torrent of complaints raises the question in my mind: were these same people constantly criticizing President Biden when he moved forth policies consistently, directly opposed to biblical Christianity? You would be hard-pressed to find one direct action Biden did remotely consistent with the scriptural principles of governance, yet many praised him and others were silent as the great evils of his presidency unfolded.
What a Difference a Year Makes
The contrast between the Biden Presidency and Trump’s can be seen recently during Holy Week by how each man responded to this sacred time. One year ago, on Resurrection Sunday, President Biden recognized Transgender Visibility Day. One year later, President Trump recognized the death and resurrection of Christ and the importance of Holy Week to American Christians and our nation. You would think that all Christians everywhere would be rejoicing with such a dramatic change in the right direction in only one year, yet what has taken place for many are either crickets or a non-stop barrage of criticism.
Pride Month
In recent years June has been recognized as LGBTQ “Pride Month.” It’s served as a picture of a society given over to sin, just as the apostle Paul wrote:
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. (Romans 1:26-28).
Then at the end of the chapter, Paul writes,
Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (Romans 1:32).
We had not only a society full of people given to these shameful practices, but we’ve also had leaders who approve of them in their depravity. President Biden prominently recognized this month each year of his presidency. But we now have a President who no longer recognizes a month of depravity. As Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated recently, “President Trump doesn’t feel as though spending $200 million on festivals and parades for what amounts to less than 7 percent of the population makes any sense. We’d much rather put that money towards solving the homeless veteran issue.” While you can argue that Trump is not making this change based on principle but rather for pragmatic reasons, there is a sense of basic morality in this statement. First, he sees the recognition of Pride Month and the parades that accompany it as a waste of taxpayer funds. Money toward evil is a waste. Secondly, he recognizes that most Americans don’t practice this lifestyle (only 7%). Thirdly, he wants to truly help Americans by using time, effort, and money to alleviate the suffering of homeless veterans. Trump’s position is one of common sense and looking after those who are truly suffering in America.
The Innocent and Christians Defended
On Trump’s first day in office he pardoned 1,500 people tied to the events of January 6th, 2021, some who had been kept in jail indefinitely after being denied basic, constitutional rights. Most of these people were merely in the wrong place at the wrong time, but their lives were turned upside down by a justice department bent on making an example of political opponents. I personally heard the story of a local family from Minnesota at the Capitol on January 6th with phony charges brought against them. They and many Christians alongside them prayed that Trump would emerge victorious last November so that they would be pardoned and get their lives back. The Lord answered these prayers.
At the beginning of Trump’s second term, he also pardoned twenty-four pro-life activists who protested at abortion clinics. Those who acted on their Christian faith as they saw the evil of abortion. Some of these had spent time in jail. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley said when he heard news of their pardon, “No administration in history has targeted Christians like the Biden administration. We saw one persecution after another, from shutting down churches during COVID to raiding pro-lifers’ homes at the crack of dawn. EVERY pro-life prisoner Biden wrongly imprisoned should be pardoned.”
Hawley correctly identified the issue with the Biden administration: they saw biblical Christians as America’s problem and the greatest obstacle of advancing their radical agenda. But once President Trump assumed office, we have experienced the opposite. We have a President who has taken a posture of defending Christians. It is incredible to me that many Christian leaders cannot see this. While Trump is certainly imperfect, Christians should be full of gratitude that the tyranny of the last administration is gone, at least for a little while. The same President whose actions led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in his first term has already again in his second term governed righteously in many ways, and we should pray that this continues and only increases.
The Focus of His Critics
The criticisms thrown at Trump by progressive and ignorant evangelicals revolve around his strong immigration policy. Merely following the Constitution (as illegal immigrants have no constitutional rights, contrary to what David French has said), has earned him the ire of those evangelicals hopelessly addicted to virtue signally. God put leaders in place to promote good and punish wrongdoing (Romans 13:1-7). To call him a “fascist,” “bigot,” or “racist” for promoting the most basic law and order is irrational and evidence of severe Trump Derangement Syndrome. Leaders are put in place by God to enforce the law (1 Peter 2:13-14).
When it comes to tariffs, Trump is also being painted as an erratic leader. I am not an economics expert, but it seems like a positive that Trump has attempted to keep China from taking advantage of America, unlike previous administrations. Communist China desires to increase their power in the world and any President who opposes their influence should be praised rather than constantly rebuked.
Christians Should Display Gratitude
I certainly don’t agree with everything Trump has done. For example, I am very disappointed that he appointed Paula White as the leader of the Faith office in the White House. But to fail to see the good that Trump has been able to do by God’s common grace is utter foolishness. During Jesus’ ministry, he rebuked the generation in Israel at that time for not recognizing the work of God around them as he proclaimed,
We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn. (Matthew 11:16-17).
A sinful people isn’t thankful or appreciative of what God is doing. In this case, God’s common grace shown in our President. American Christians should be full of gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:18), but instead, there is near constant complaining (2 Timothy 3:2) as people who name the name of Christ behave as childish unbelievers (Matthew 11:16-17).
Remember how much worse things could be.
Remember how much worse things were only one year ago.
May we thank the Lord for the undeserved favor shown to our nation in 2025.
