The Trump train is rolling again

I was not a Trump supporter during the 2016 Iowa caucuses. I decided to run for a seat on Iowa's delegation to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland after Cruz won the Wisconsin primary and it looked like there was a chance that no one would be able to secure the nomination in the first round of voting. By the time the convention rolled around it was clear that Trump would win the nomination. So, following the rules established by the party, I and the rest of the Iowa delegation cast our votes for Trump. At the time, I described myself on a blog as, "on the Trump Train, but in the very last car … and I might be drunk!"

I voted for Trump in the general election, but I was voting for the team not the individual and I was definitely voting against Hillary Clinton. Having a Republican team in place allowed Trump to bring about a seismic change in the makeup of the Supreme Court. So in 2020, I ran and was elected to represent Iowa's 1st Congressional District in the Electoral College. On Dec. 14, 2020, I drove to the Capitol in Des Moines and cast one of Iowa's electoral votes for Donald Trump. Several media outlets interviewed me that day and I am on the record saying that Donald Trump lost the election, and that Joe Biden would be the next president of the United States.

To my Republican friends, yes, I said that Trump lost the election. Were there irregularities? Yes! But, the people voted, the states chose electors, those electors cast their votes, Congress received and counted the votes and Joe Biden won.

While I was never an ardent Trump supporter, I did get on board the Trump Train in both 2016 and 2020. Now, as the Trump Train appears to be barreling toward another nomination, why have I chosen to take the bus?

Evangelical Christians have been the at the core of Trump's support with big names like James Dobson, Jerry Falwell Jr. and Paula White leading the way. While I have great respect for Dobson, a sex scandal ended Falwell's tenure at the University founded by his father, and White is not someone whose teaching I would consider orthodox.

Confession of sin and forgiveness is central evangelical Christianity. When asked whether he had ever sought God's forgiveness, Trump said:

"I am not sure I have. I just go on and try to do a better job from there. I don’t think so. I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and make it right. I don’t bring God into that picture. I don't."

Further, Trump demonstrated that he was biblically illiterate when he referenced a bible verse he had seen at Liberty University. The verse was 2 Corinthians 3:17. In his speech to the student body, he referred to the verse as "Two Corinthians." Anyone (protestant or Catholic) who has spent time listening to pastors or Sunday School teachers would know that the reference is spoken as, "Second Corinthians."

The vulgar behavior that he proudly described in the Access Hollywood video, for which he apparently did not need God's forgiveness, should be enough to cause anyone to question Trump's evangelical bonifides.

Trump policies may have been 'friendly' to evangelical Christians, but he is not one of us.

Somehow Republicans have given Trump a pass on stimulus checks, the eviction moratorium, failing to build a wall and have Mexico pay for it, and “15 days to slow the spread.”

After he lost the election, with control of the Senate hanging in the balance, Trump went to Georgia to campaign for incumbents David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. But instead of using his influence to help their elections, he spent the time claiming that the election had been stolen from him. Trump's actions in Georgia cost the Republicans both seats and gave the Biden administration control of both the House and the Senate.

On Dec. 3, Trump made one of the most outrageous statements of any American president. It showed his willingness to violate his oath of office and place himself above the Constitution. On his Truth Social platform, he wrote:

"A massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution. Our great 'Founders' did not want, and would not condone, False and Fraudulent Elections!"

All of this happened before Jan. 6. While I don't believe that Donald Trump is criminally liable for the riot that occurred on that day, I do feel he was derelict in his duty by not acting swiftly to try to end it. As I watched the events of that day unfold the nation waited for almost four hours before President Donald Trump made an effort to calm the rioters.

I was off the Trump Train long before the recent indictments. I remain skeptical as to whether Trump's actions we actually criminal.

Some of my conservative friends have told me, in defense of Trump, that, " … we are electing a president, not a pastor. I am voting for Trump's policies." Observing Trump's behavior after losing the election, I cannot even support his policies. A second term would be a 'revenge tour' and Trump has said that the perceived injustice done to him would justify acting outside the Constitution.

I have been involved in Republican politics for many years. I have run multiple precinct caucuses, served on the State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Iowa, and I have volunteered on campaigns. I remember a time when we Republicans said that “character matters.” Character still matters, at least to me!

Trump and I do have one thing in common. He has said that he will not pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee. For the first time since I have been a Republican, I have to say that with Donald Trump in the field I cannot make that pledge either. The Trump Train is gaining speed and Donald Trump will very likely win the Iowa caucuses and the nomination, but as it goes by, this time I will take the bus!

David Chung is a Gazette editorial fellow. david.chung@thegazette.com