Comedian and political commentator John Fugelsang used a spot on MS NOW's Morning Joe Friday to make fun of Donald Trump and his senior faith advisor. Pastor Paula White, on Wednesday, compared Trump's political and legal woes to Christ's crucifixion. The White House posted the clip before deleting it the same day. 'Watching that, I'm reminded that the only way you can support both Donald Trump and Jesus is if you've never read either one of their books,' Fugelsang joked after a producer played it back. Fugelsang then recalled a Bible verse where Christ famously told Judaea's Pontius Pilate - the official who oversees his crucifixion - that he is indeed a king, but not the sort he would recognize, to hit his point home.
'It's really like the greatest act of satire in the entire bible. This homeless, Jewish mystic faith healer is virtually mocking the pomp that surrounds the armies of Caesar,' Fugelsang explained. 'Because you're either standing up to Caesar or you're capitulating to him, like Paula White.' Remembering Christ's subsequent arrest and execution, Fugelsang said: 'By the end of the week, it's the saddest story you've ever read.' White, two days before, used the Passion to preach a much different sermon.
She said, as Trump stood at her back, 'Mr. President, no one has paid the price like you have paid the price. It almost cost you your life. You were betrayed and arrested. And falsely accused. 'It's a familiar pattern that our Lord and Savior showed us. But it didn't end there for Him, and it didn't end there for you. God always had a plan.' White went on to evoke the Resurrection, celebrated each Easter Sunday. 'On the third day, He rose; He defeated evil; He conquered death, hell, and the grave.' 'And because He rose, we all know that we can rise.' 'And sir, because of His resurrection, you rose up.'
The remarks were offered up during an hourlong event at the White House held in celebration of Easter. The event was not open to the press or public. When it began, the White House launched a video stream of it in its entirety. It ran for an hour and four minutes and saw Trump speak himself. But the video was deleted within hours. The span was long enough for many to record and capture the clips.
White's official title is senior advisor to the White House Faith Office. She previously served as a faith-based advisor to the White House during Trump's first term. Trump poached her as a personal minister after watching her televangelism on television, the New York Times reported in 2019. She is the author of several books and is married to Jonathan Cain, who is the keyboardist for the rock group Journey.