President Donald Trump is going through a very difficult time right now. His poll numbers are underwater on the economy, on health care, on tariffs, on the Epstein files, on immigration, on the war in Ukraine, on strikes on Venezuelan boats, etc. The Susie Wiles interviews with Vanity Fair reveal a Cabinet in chaos. Although I vigorously disagree with many of his policies, I must remember that Trump is a human being made in God’s image. He needs help because his mental and emotional state show wear and tear. President Trump went on a tirade in his tweet regarding Rob and Michele Reiner’s murder. Here it is for you to evaluate for yourself.
“A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS. He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness, and with the Golden Age of America upon us, perhaps like never before.” His post concluded, “May Rob and Michele rest in peace!“
Each president, in turn, needs to be the “Consoler-in-Chief” to bring the nation together after a tragedy. His tweet did not succeed. Instead of leading us into a national lament, Trump’s tirade became self-aggrandizing and praising of himself with phrases like “the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness.”
Almost universally, U.S. politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, appropriately criticized the president for his lack of normal human empathy. Trump claims to be a Christian, but he doesn’t seem to know much about Jesus nor his basic message of forgiveness. Trump has repeatedly claimed he has never confessed his sins to God nor asked for forgiveness from God. Trump is a deeply flawed person. So am I. Trump needs healing of his soul…and his entire being. We all do.
The president has a White House Faith Office led by Rev. Paula White. The staff in that office, in addition to their public duties, should provide the president with the best pastoral recommendations for his personal life. If I were pastor to the president, I would urge the following:
- Mr. President, you need a deep, genuine conversion. The good news message is the same for all. Repent of your evil ways and believe in the Lord for the forgiveness of your sins. Be as honest as you can with God. Although you can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, you can fool the Lord none of the time. The Good Book says, “if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” Become truthful. Make a list of your biggest mistakes, acknowledge them and turn away from them. Become reconciled with God.
- Mr. President, my second exhortation is based on the first. “If you are presenting an offering to the Lord and you remember that someone has something against you, go and become reconciled with that person.” To the degree that it depends on you, reconcile yourself with the people in your life. Confess your sins to those you have offended. This includes your family and friends, but also your rivals and opponents.
- Mr. President, ask key people to speak truth into your heart. We all have blind spots. I do…you do. We don’t see our flaws as others see them. You are surrounded by “yes” men and women who tell you what you want to hear but not what you need to hear. Therefore, ask key people to tell you the truth. I think Melania might be a good person to start with. Perhaps Ivanka. It would take great maturity on your part but invite Marjorie Taylor Greene or Mike Pence to point out your flaws to your face.
P.S. Mr. President, I listened to your speech to the nation last night. We all know your motivation was to shore up your sinking presidency. Like most politicians, you cherry pick the data. You highlight data that is favorable (ex. gasoline prices), but you ignore (ex. health care premium increases) or outright lie about the negative facts (ex. grocery price increases or that tariffs are taxes).
I hope and pray that you humbly learn to walk in the truth and experience substantial healing.