FALSE PROPHET
Franklin Graham
Evangelist
Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, is a prominent evangelist himself and perhaps the nation’s most insidious Christian nationalist. Graham is the president of Samaritan’s Purse and president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), roles that allow his supporters and the media alike to overlook and even excuse his vitriolic Christian-nationalist politics, hatred, and conspiracy theories.
Graham, who is notorious for his homophobia, has said that Pride Month is “an entire month set aside to celebrate a lifestyle that God defines as sin,” and that celebrating Pride is like celebrating “lying, adultery, or murder.” In 2020, Graham held politically tinged prayer rallies around the country and claimed that “God’s hand intervened” on election night to “stop the godless, atheistic progressive agenda from taking control of our country.”
Graham’s Christian Nationalist Rhetoric
Endorsed Donald Trump’s Big Lie of a stolen election, then initially blamed the January 6 insurrection on “antifa” instead of pro-Trump rioters.
Uses explicitly Christian nationalist rhetoric, claiming that “Judeo-Christian beliefs… have undergirded our nation—and most of Western civilization—for centuries.”
Released a special five-article package for BGEA’s “Decision” magazine titled “Progressive Christianity Can Lead You to Hell.”
Blasphemously suggested that progressive Christians who criticize him criticize God, telling the York (PA) Daily Record, "The opposition ultimately isn’t against me — it’s against what God says in the Bible."
In a 2019 interview, Graham claimed opposition to Trump is due to an “almost demonic power.”
Said of the House Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump, “It makes you wonder what the thirty pieces of silver were that Speaker Pelosi promised for this betrayal,” comparing pro-impeachment Republicans to Judas and of Nancy Pelosi to the Pharisees.
Said Donald Trump "will go down in history as one of the great presidents."
Generates a right-wing victim complex with fake Christmas controversies and a demand for special religious rights, claiming, “The war on Christmas is a war on Christ and His followers.”
Graham’s Christian Nationalist Policy Positions
Claimed President Obama had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, and that his problem was that he was born a Muslim.
Has called Islam "a very evil and wicked religion," hatefully claiming, "True Islam cannot be practiced in this country. You can't beat your wife. You cannot murder your children.”
Defended Trump’s refugee ban by falsely claiming immigration -- one of the most frequently mentioned social issues in the Bible -- is “not a Bible issue.”
Praised Vladimir Putin's homophobic laws in 2015: "I very much appreciate that President Putin is protecting Russian young people against homosexual propaganda."
In a Facebook post against the pro-equality Respect for Marriage Act, called LGBTQ Americans “evil and rebellious.” Graham also organized supporters against the pro-LGBTQ Equality Act.
Demanded that Pete Buttigieg “repent” for being an openly gay Christian.
Said that requiring public schools to teach LGBTQ history is “an affront to God.”
In fall 2022, blamed violent crime on teachers and argued that putting the Ten Commandments on school walls “would have an impact.”
Since Trump left office, Graham has gravitated more and more towards MAGA and QAnon conspiracy theories about the FBI’s search of Mar-a-Lago and the IRS’s latest hires, embracing the kind of rhetoric that experts say incites political violence.