Donald Trump suggested on Monday that “Bible literacy” classes were making a comeback in public schools and suggested that was a good thing. Many people were surprised by the tweet since Trump isn’t exactly known for his God-fearing ways.
And as Trump’s former pastor noted, in any case, the president can’t exactly speak with much authority on the subject.
Pastor David Lewicki responded to Trump’s tweet on Tuesday morning, explaining how he served as a pastor at New York City’s Marble Collegiate Church for about five years in the mid-aughts.
Despite being on the member rolls, Trump never showed. Not to Bible study ― and not even to a service, according to Lewicki.
“I assure you, he had the ‘option’ to come to Bible study. He never ‘opted’ in,” Lewicki wrote. “Nor did he ever actually enter the church doors. Not one time.”
I was @realDonaldTrump [1]'s pastor for 5 years @MarbleChurch [2]. I assure you, he had the "option" to come to Bible study. He never "opted" in. Nor did he ever actually enter the church doors. Not one time. https://t.co/hf06e6LyRz [3]
— David Lewicki (@dlewicki) January 29, 2019 [4]
At one point, the president did attend Marble. The Trump family migrated to the Manhattan church from a Presbyterian establishment near their home in Queens during the 1960s, when Marble was led by the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale. The president’s father was a particular fan of Peale, a famous minister who authored The Power of Positive Thinking.
On the campaign trail, Trump spoke about his religious upbringing and even name-checked Marble, where he married his first wife.
In a rare move, though, the church issued a statement clarifying that Trump was not an “active” member.
Twitter had a field day:
HAHA poor @realDonaldTrump [1] you are just a NAZI oompa loompa liar and moron 🙂 just quit and save the world the trouble 🙂 https://t.co/neSF3J0dGE [5]
— DJ MagickFox (@DJMagickFox) January 31, 2019 [6]
Ppl are arguing that he's wrong for calling this out. As if 45s words and actions don't harm real ppl. As if, he doesn't have a duty to the god he serves to not let him be used as cover for evil. https://t.co/z7pYU9nCbX [7]
— Bitchcraft (@cookiebitz5) January 31, 2019 [8]
There’s nothing Christian about this man and there never has been. https://t.co/xQHJIYz8tj [9]
— Loves Acadia (@loves_acadia) January 30, 2019 [10]
This is why the Evangelicals' love of him is so misplaced. Those who think he was chosen by God are delusional. https://t.co/JRlXsXeZcr [11]
— Heidi8377 (@Heidi8377) January 30, 2019 [12]