Evangelicals apparently not concerned over Trump depicting the Obamas as apes. [View all]

Evangelicals won’t dump Trump over his racist Obama video
A few spoke out, but most right-wing Christians quietly support the president's ugly views
By Amanda Marcotte
Senior Writer

https://www.salon.com/2026/02/11/evangelicals-wont-dump-trump-over-his-racist-obama-video/

Have white evangelicals finally been embarrassed enough by Donald Trump? There were some glimmers of hope that many in the community hit their limit when the president posted a video to Truth Social that included a clip portraying Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times argued that no one should be surprised, as Trump’s entire career has been centered around “his bitter, deep-seated racism.” But even after a decade of pretending not to see it, even some stalwart Trump supporters couldn’t deny the video was the visual equivalent of saying the N-word in public.

Along with a handful of congressional Republicans, a number of prominent Christian conservatives condemned the video. Sandi Patty, a legend in gospel and contemporary Christian music, posted a video on Instagram, noting she’s a “registered Republican” but found the video “inexcusable.” The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention issued a statement calling the clip “intentionally derogatory and dehumanizing.” Dr. Russell Moore of Christianity Today, Kay Warren of Saddleback Church and Desiring God founder John Piper also denounced the video.

With notable names like these, it’s easy to understand how some members of the mainstream media, including MS NOW’s Joe Scarborough, enthusiastically declared that “evangelical leaders” had been “forced or shocked” to “speak out against it.” But one should not be fooled by the outliers. Most white evangelical leaders copied Rev. Franklin Graham, who ignored the racist post while praising Trump for “turning to God.” Others, like televangelist Lance Wallnau, reminded their followers that they love the president because “he says the quiet parts out loud.”

Plenty of other prominent preachers and pundits from the evangelical right chose to defend Trump outright. Minister Sean Feucht retweeted a post claiming Trump did it by accident. (While the White House initially deflected on the video before deleting it and blaming the incident on a staffer, the president has refused to apologize.) Turning Point USA executive Benny Johnson called the widespread outrage a “hoax.” Christian podcaster Matt Walsh denied the video was racist, claiming it was merely “edgy.” Instead they all spent far more energy freaking out over Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl, revealing they share Trump’s hostility to non-white people in positions of prominence and esteem.