Outgoing Illinois Rep Adam Kinzinger took aim at Donald Trump Jr after the son of former President Donald Trump uploaded a video on social media last week promoting Bibles on Monday.
“Guys, with American Judeo-Christian values under attack, there can be no better time than to re-up our commitment to America and to the Christian values that this country was founded on,” Mr. Trump Jr said in a video posted to Twitter shortly before the New Year. “Go check out the We The People Bible, made in America, printed in America, assembled in America — you’re going to love it, and I think the people in your life probably need it too.”
The video was set to soar music and featured Mr. Trump Jr performing hand gestures identical to those used by his father. On the We The People website, a single Bible costs $69.99 and may be purchased alongside a variety of other things in a “Liberty” or “Save America” package.
Mr. Kinzinger, who upset Republicans last year by agreeing to serve on the House Select Committee probing the insurgency, was impressed.
“Oh the irony,” Mr. Kinzinger tweeted. “The fact that some Christians don’t see the problem here is more affirmation that it’s not the GOP that has failed Christians, it’s the church. Good Pastors and Priests rise up and call this out.”
The debate over Mr. Trump’s relationship with Christianity and Christians has raged for years, with some observers wondering why Mr. Trump has maintained a fervent base of support among white evangelical Christians despite his repeated dishonesty, adultery, numerous allegations of sexual assault, and apparent lack of interest in or knowledge of genuine Christian faith.
That backing has been critical to Mr. Trump’s political success. According to the AP VoteCast survey of the 2020 presidential election, 81% of white evangelical voters supported Mr. Trump for president that year, compared to only 18% for Mr. Biden a margin that kept Mr. Trump in the race despite losing Catholic voters by a narrow margin and non-Christian voters by an overwhelming margin.
During his presidency, Mr. Trump has developed contacts with evangelical leaders and pursued policies in both the domestic and international arenas that looked to align with their goals.
However, Mr. Trump was not a long-standing member of any church community during his life, and his son was accused of lying by Mr. Kinzinger and many others when he aired his video trying to sell Bibles last week.
In its final report, issued in December, the House committee on which Mr. Kinzinger sat suggested that Mr. Trump face charges for several violations of the law. After declining to run for re-election last year, M. Kinzinger is leaving Congress.
