Donald Trump and the Would-Be Assassin

Today was a historic day - or perhaps infamous would be a better way to describe it. July 13^th, 2024, will henceforth be known as the day that someone tried and failed to gun down former President (and current presidential candidate) Donald Trump. The Bible is quite clear about such actions. There’s even a commandment about it: ”Thou shalt not kill.” And yet, here we are.

For anyone who is unclear about the Biblical stance on assassination of political enemies, one might do well to consider the story of David’s encounter with Saul in the caves of Engedi (1 Samuel 24). David had been fleeing from Saul, who had repeatedly attempted to kill David. In a bizarre turn of events, Saul, during his pursuit of David, ends up relieving himself in the very cave where David and his men were hiding. Saul had inadvertently left himself completely defenseless and vulnerable.

David could have ended Saul’s life then and there, as he had caught the king completely unaware of his presence. Instead, David cut off a corner of Saul’s robe, later using it to demonstrate that he could have easily murdered Saul had he intended to do so:

“Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.’ See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May the Lord judge between me and you…” (1 Samuel 24:8-12)

Contrast this passage with the actions of a gunman at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania earlier today. A person whom Donald Trump had never met, who had never suffered any remote threat of harm from the former President, took it upon himself to attempt to ensure that the public would not have another chance to vote Donald Trump back into the presidency. This after a widely publicized story revealed that President Joe Biden said to a group of private donors only days before, “it’s time to put Trump in a bullseye.” (Politico) Fortunately, this bullet missed the mark, if only narrowly.

There is a certain segment of the American populace who will undoubtedly see the would-be assassin's actions as a twisted kind of heroism. Donald Trump has been painted as a monster by the media for over eight years now, and some unfortunates have swallowed that story, hook, line, and sinker. However, no follower of Christ should view the attempted murder of Donald Trump as anything other than a sinful, hate-motivated crime. Whether you agree with Trump's politics or not is irrelevant when simple questions of right and wrong are at play. Murder is a sin, even when the attempt is unsuccessful. King David, when given ample opportunity, motive, and arguably justifiable reasons to end Saul's life, recognized the evil of such actions and chose grace instead.

Donald Trump is obviously not a perfect man, but neither is he the kind of evil, vengeful tyrant as was Saul. As my American readers go to the polls in November, I urge you to put aside the narratives of the talking heads on both sides of the aisle. Instead, ask prayerfully for wisdom and guidance from the Lord and cast your ballots accordingly.