The epoch times

Ben Carson backs Trump, biblical themes dominate Sioux City campaign.

Before⁤ former President Donald Trump​ took the stage,⁤ a familiar face​ appeared before the crowd at ⁣the Sioux City Orpheum.⁤ It was Dr.‍ Ben Carson.

The softspoken brain surgeon endorsed ‌President Trump to cheers and applause.

“They’re trying to throw God out of our country,” said Dr. Carson, who served as ⁢Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Trump administration.

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Dr. Carson⁢ wasn’t the only speaker who invoked Biblical themes at the Oct. 29 “Commit to Caucus” event, the president’s⁢ latest​ event in the Hawkeye State as the Jan. 15 Iowa GOP caucus nears.

The focus on‌ the ⁣universal values in Christianity was no ⁣great surprise. An email blast from the campaign after President Trump spoke touted new endorsements ⁢from Dr. Carson ​but also from “over 100 Iowa faith leaders”: pastors, ministry leaders, elders, and others throughout the key early​ state.
Dr. Ben Carson, former U.S.‌ Secretary of ⁤Housing and Urban Development, in Virginia on Dec. 7,⁢ 2021. (York Du/The Epoch Times)

Faith could tip the scales here. In some ‌recent Iowa GOP caucuses, candidates who‍ cultivated a conservative, ⁢religious image—former⁤ Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee—have won. Of course, all of that was‌ before the Trump presidency scrambled many of the formulas for ⁤American politics.

With his former⁣ vice president, Mike Pence, now an also-ran,⁣ President Trump no longer faces a competitor that some imagined would draw the ‍votes of religious conservatives in the Hawkeye State. Yet, against⁢ the backdrop of a hot war in ⁤the Holy Land, Florida Gov. Ron⁢ DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley are both bidding for evangelical voters who ⁣support Israel more strongly than almost anyone. So despite strong polling ahead of the Iowa ‌caucus, President Trump can’t afford to rest on ⁣his laurels.

Iowa ⁤State Sen. ‌Lynn Evans, a Republican, began his remarks ‍by quoting Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh⁣ and blood, but against principalities.”

“The only way we do this is with God’s help and God’s blessing,” said Matt Whitaker, who ‍was acting attorney general during ‍the Trump administration.

Acting Attorney General Matthew G. ‌Whitaker, gives brief remarks to state⁣ and local law enforcement on efforts to combat violent crime and the opioid crisis at the U.S. Courthouse Annex, on November‌ 14, 2018 in ​Des Moines, Iowa. (Steve Pope/Getty Images)

And in ⁣the⁢ middle of his own speech,​ President Trump ⁤drew attention to ‍the ‍day of the week.

“We can‌ go a little longer today ‘cause it’s ​a ⁤Sunday,”⁢ he ⁢said. ⁤“God said we ‍can take some extra time, because it’s a Sunday.”

Courting the Evangelical

Indeed, the former commander-in-chief seemed particularly relaxed at the Orpheum, an ornate space⁢ first built for vaudeville performances.

On the fringes of⁣ the real American West, in‍ an ⁣old Orpheum circuit theater,⁤ President⁤ Trump balanced talk of war, peace, and ⁣the eternal ​with earthy, irreverent ‍humor—a feat few can⁣ manage under the easiest circumstances, and even fewer while successfully ‌courting the evangelical bloc that can make or break Republican candidates.

He criticized ‍President Joe Biden’s foreign policy, focusing on what he ⁤described as an “inept withdrawal” from Afghanistan.

President ⁣Trump also riffed on the Biden administration’s plans for ​electrifying the military fleet.

“You ‌obliterate something, but you do it in an environmentally friendly ​way,” he said, drawing laughter.‌ He went on to ​argue that electric vehicles increase the United States’s reliance on China and still don’t stay charged long enough‌ to be practical in many settings.

“Under the Trump administration, I ⁣kept America⁣ safe, I kept Israel safe, and I‍ kept ​the world safe,” President Trump ​said before being drowned out by applause⁣ and chants of “USA!”

Speaking in⁣ the Upper Midwest, traditionally less pro-war than some other parts of the⁣ country, he leaned on a record of avoiding wars as president.

He also praised the leader of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, for keeping illegal immigrants‍ out at a time when⁤ the United ‍States and many other European countries face a flood of migrants and asylum seekers, many arriving illegally.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban holds a news conference after the⁤ parliamentary election in⁢ Budapest, ⁤Hungary, on April 6, ‍2022. (Bernadett Szabo/Reuters)

“I will not give one penny to any school that has ‌a vaccine mandate or a mask mandate,” President⁣ Trump vowed.

Yet for Mr. DeSantis’s backers, the former president’s record on vaccines, masks, and other facets of COVID-19 may still‍ look like a vulnerability.

From the bowels of the Orpheum, an anonymous ⁤heckler posed a tough question for President Trump, who has ⁣maintained that the 2020​ election was rigged against him. ⁣He asked how the president could stop cheating in the 2024 election in light of that past​ outcome.

The heckler ⁤was escorted to the door, and the show went on.

How has President⁣ Trump‌ emphasized his commitment to religious freedom and⁢ the protection of Christian values during his presidency?

Political opponents and⁤ touted his administration’s accomplishments, including the creation of a strong economy and the appointment of⁣ conservative judges. But he⁤ also spoke about ⁤the importance of faith and religion in the United‌ States, declaring that “we will never remove God from the public square.”

President Trump’s ability to connect with evangelical voters‍ has been a key factor in his political⁣ success. Throughout his presidency, he‍ consistently emphasized his commitment‍ to religious ⁣freedom and‍ the‍ protection of ⁢Christian values. This resonated with many ‍conservative Christians who felt that their beliefs⁢ were under attack in an increasingly secular society.

The support of evangelical voters is especially crucial in states⁢ like ⁣Iowa, where they make‍ up a ⁤significant portion of the electorate. Previous Republican candidates who were able ‍to court this⁣ demographic have found success in the Iowa caucuses.⁤ However, the political landscape has shifted since then, and President Trump is ‍facing⁢ new challengers who are‌ also vying for ⁤the​ support of evangelical voters.

With former Vice President Mike‌ Pence no longer ⁤in⁤ the race, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley have ‌stepped‌ up their efforts to ⁤appeal to evangelical voters. Both candidates have positioned themselves as strong supporters of Israel, an issue that resonates with many conservative Christians. President Trump cannot afford to underestimate the ‍competition and must continue to work hard ⁤to maintain his strong connection with evangelical⁤ voters.

The event at the ⁢Sioux City Orpheum ‍highlighted the importance of ⁣faith‍ and spirituality in American politics. Dr. Ben Carson, a renowned brain surgeon and former Secretary of‍ Housing and⁢ Urban Development, endorsed President Trump and ‍spoke ‍about the need to protect ​religious freedom. Other speakers, including Iowa State Senator​ Lynn Evans and Acting Attorney General‌ Matt⁣ Whitaker, ‌also emphasized ⁣the role of⁢ faith in their ​remarks.

President Trump himself⁤ drew attention ‍to the significance of the‍ day, declaring that because ‌it was⁢ Sunday, they could go a​ little longer. This‍ lighthearted remark ‍showcased his ability to⁣ connect with his audience and find common ground through‍ shared values and experiences.

In conclusion, the⁣ Commit to Caucus event in Iowa showcased President Trump’s ⁢ability ‍to connect with evangelical voters​ and emphasize the importance ⁣of ‍faith in American politics. While​ he faces new competition from other candidates, he cannot afford to rest on his laurels ‌and must continue ​to work hard to maintain his strong support from evangelical voters. The outcome of the Iowa caucus will serve as ⁢an important indicator of the level of support he still ‌commands within⁣ this demographic.



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