There’s a big reason Donald Trump maintains almost otherworldly support among white evangelicals. They’ve been told for the better part of four decades that supporting Democrats are godless at best and demonic at worst. The religious right has pushed its followers into supporting any schmuck or reprobate with an “R” next to their name—a trend that has reached its apex with Trump.
A particularly galling example of this mentality comes from Gen Z Christian influencer and speaker Hannah Williamson. As I note at my Substack, almost anyone who doesn’t have a MAGA hat glued to their head saw this weekend’s No Kings protests as a beautiful example of democracy in action. But Williamson believed that the only reason those large crowds drew them was that “the enemy” drew them there. Translation—in her eyes, it was demonic.
Williamson arrived at Charlotte’s First Ward Park while the Charlotte No Kings rally was very much underway. She took to social media to tout plans for a “Holyween Revival Night” planned for that very park on Halloween night—and to slam No Kings as not just un-American, but demonic. No, this isn’t snark.
It was concerning enough by itself that Williamson would think this protest was “anti-America,” even allowing for Trump to conflate opposing him with being against America. Peaceful protest—and with few exceptions, the protests nationwide were peaceful—could not be more American. But suggesting that “the enemy” drove those crowds to that park? Being a left-leaning charismatic Christian, I’m very familiar with the pitch of that dog whistle. She was saying that anyone who joined in putting Trump on notice that the people wouldn’t be cowed by his blatantly dictatorial ambitions was demonically driven.
Williamson continued a disturbing tradition for the religious right dating to when it made its Faustian deal with Trump. They led us to believe that the Women’s March was driven by witchcraft and demonic activity, and that opposing Trump risked your family being cursed. They threatened to sic God on the Democrats during Trump’s first impeachment. And on, and on, and on.
What makes it even more alarming coming from Williamson is that it’s a near certainty she knows about the horrors of Jan. 6. And yet, she thinks that not joining her on bended knee before Trump was “anti-America”? However, there may be a reason her mentality is so warped. In September, her father, pastor Brent Williamson, posted this shortly after Charlie Kirk’s murder.
There are a lot of reasons why Kirk shouldn’t be a model for any church. But if you’re a pastor who wants to model your church on a guy who mocked Simone Biles over her mental health struggles, you’re missing the part of your brain that makes you human.
That’s not the only reason to question how Hannah was raised, though. I realize that the religious right is all in for Trump because he makes clucking noises they like. But if those noises are enough to ignore his debauched, depraved, and outright criminal behavior—especially since his return to the White House—it’s only fair to wonder who they’re worshiping. That’s what makes Hannah’s claim that No Kings was demonic all the more disturbing—and dangerous.
For more like this, head over to my Substack, Loud, Liberal, Christian. A subscription would be greatly appreciated, especially a paid one, as it helps support my work as I adjust to my new life a year after moving to West Michigan.
