Trump just admitted on national television that he intends to hate his enemies for the rest of his life, even if forgiveness were his only way into heaven. Remarkably, that still wasn’t the most revealing moment in his disastrous 60 Minutes interview.
“I do hate some of my enemies,” Trump told CBS correspondent Ross Douthat, adding that he “always will.”
The president of the United States had been asked whether he could forgive political adversaries such as Nancy Pelosi and James Comey if his eternal salvation depended on it.
His answer was no.
There was no hesitation or visible struggle with the question. Instead, a billionaire president explained that his personal resentments mattered more to him than forgiveness, even when confronted with the ultimate moral choice.
CBS News and People reported that Douthat pressed Trump on the extraordinary admission and reminded him of the privilege and good fortune he had enjoyed throughout his life.
Trump still wouldn’t reconsider.
The moment deserves a pause. For years, Trump has presented himself as a champion of Christian America. Yet here he was, openly acknowledging that he couldn’t bring himself to practice one of Christianity’s most fundamental teachings.
He also wasn’t being asked to forgive someone responsible for an unspeakable atrocity. The people under discussion were his political opponents.
Trump spoke just days after Republicans suffered devastating midterm losses and surrendered control of both chambers of Congress. Republicans lost more than 40 House seats and at least seven Senate seats, while 63% of midterm voters disapproved of Trump’s performance.
Trump conceded that voters were angry about the war in Iran and rising gasoline prices. Even so, he suggested that Republicans’ biggest problem was his own absence from the ballot.
Confronted with an unmistakable electoral rebuke, he still managed to make the outcome about himself.
As Americans contend with the costs of war, economic uncertainty and deepening political divisions, their president is publicly explaining why he plans to carry his hatred to the grave.
A crushing electoral defeat could have prompted a president to reassess his priorities, acknowledge public suffering and search for common ground.
Trump instead offered Americans another glimpse of a political worldview governed by grievance, personal loyalty and resentment.
The presidency exists to serve the entire country, including the people who vote against the person holding it.
Hatred cannot supply leadership. Revenge cannot amount to public service. And refusing to forgive political opponents is no demonstration of strength. It is an admission about what matters most to the person who refuses.
Sad.
