Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance spoke at an event hosted by a Christian “apostle” who believes Donald Trump is destined to save America from Kamala Harris, sent by the devil to “take Trump out.” The town hall took place in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, with Vance addressing a crowd gathered for the “Courage” tour organized by Lance Wallnau, a pastor known for his support of Trump and evangelical views. Vance’s participation in the event highlighted the Trump campaign aligning itself with an extremist faction pushing for a Christian theocracy, steeped in anti-LGBTQ bigotry.
Wallnau, a key figure in the “stop the steal” movement, was set to speak at the Jan. 6, 2021 rally that turned into the Capitol attack. He has compared Trump to King Cyrus and used misogynistic language against Harris, accusing her of using “witchcraft.” The pastor has a history of making vile anti-LGBTQ comments, once referring to queer activists as the “trans Taliban.” Wallnau is associated with the New Apostolic Reformation, a movement that believes in modern-day apostles and prophets with the power to heal. He promotes the “seven mountains mandate,” which states that Christians must conquer societal influence, including government and media, for Christ to return to Earth.
Attendees at the event, like David Bartels from Harrisburg, lined up early to pray and intercede for Trump to become president. Bartels showed HuffPost a photo of his remodeled school bus, which he uses to travel around the country healing people, believing he has prophetic powers. He is hopeful that miracles will take place surrounding the election, with Trump, Vance, and the Republican Party witnessing the power of God. Vance’s appearance at Wallnau’s town hall reflected the Trump campaign’s continued tie to a strain of extremism that seeks to transform the government into a Christian theocracy.
Vance’s town hall speech touched on his rediscovery of his Catholic faith and his campaign talking points, including blaming the fentanyl crisis on border laws and making baseless assertions about education. Wallnau, a fixture in the evangelical community, has been active in encouraging evangelicals to vote for Trump and engage in the election process as poll watchers and workers. The pastor’s extreme views on LGBTQ individuals and his belief in supernatural powers have drawn criticism from advocacy groups and LGBTQ activists. Vance’s participation in the event underscores the Trump campaign’s alignment with a faction pushing for a Christian theocracy and spreading anti-LGBTQ bigotry.
Wallnau’s comparison of Harris to the biblical figure Jezebel and his accusations of witchcraft during a televised debate with Trump highlight the pastor’s extreme rhetoric and misogynistic language. The pastor’s involvement in the New Apostolic Reformation and promotion of the “seven mountains mandate” demonstrate his beliefs in the power of modern-day apostles and prophets to influence societal change. Attendees like David Bartels, who believe in prophetic powers and healing miracles, show the fervent support for Trump and Vance in their quest for political power. The event in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, underscores the intense religious and political fervor surrounding the Trump campaign and its association with extremist beliefs.
