I’ve been friends with this fellow for years. Over that time we’ve had many non-angry, non-confrontational “agree-to-disagree” internet text conversations about Trump, whom he told me he had to vote for in 2016, despite his reservations, to keep Hillary from getting elected.
At various times he’s parroted GOP/Trump talking points in response to my messages to him, but I’ve always felt he was sincere in his faith and not a hypocrite—which is why I’m still troubled and puzzled why the most devout person I know can be, if not an eager one, a Trump supporter still.
I wrote and sent him the following text message (not really a “letter,” but makes for a better headline) at 2pm this past January 6 [tiny update: it was actually the following morning, January 7th] while the mob’s attack on the the Capitol was still ongoing:
***
[His name], I want you to never forget you share in the responsibility for this:
www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/06/us/electoral-vote
Pence and Lawmakers Evacuate as Protesters Storm Capitol, Halting Count of Electoral Votes
www.cnn.com/2021/01/06/politics/us-capitol-lockdown/index.html
U.S. Capitol on lockdown as mob breaches building; one person shot inside; D.C. mayor imposes curfew
www.cnn.com/…
Pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol as armed standoff takes place outside House chamber
Donald Trump instigated this; if there's any justice in the world (which I often doubt) he will someday pay - and I hope severely - for what he has done to my country. He invited his followers to Washington and promised them a "wild time" - he kept that promise, that's for sure - and now the rest of us will pay for it.
People like me tried to warn people like you - over and over again - this man was an utterly souless sociopath, a corrupt man who cares for nothing and no one except himself - a man literally willing to destroy American democracy to keep himself in power. Please don't share any of his demagogic lies (should you sadly believe them) the election was "fixed" to defeat him; he's told literally thousands and thousands of lies before and since becoming president and will say anything to aggrandize and protect himself.
...But hey, you kept Hillary out of the White House, so everything worked out OK, right? I just want you to know I'm not angry at you - I just feel very, very sorry for you, for how you were used, how your faith was used by people who don't the tiniest damn about anything beyond becoming richer and more powerful at everyone else's expense.
I never met anyone who takes their faith as seriously as you, and I respected and admired you for that - but you knew what the man was like - and you voted for him just the same, thinking you would get something you wanted out of his presidency.
Please tell me now: was it worth it?
With great sadness,
-Joe