Evangelist Franklin Graham took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris in a recent statement to Premier Christian News, going as far as to say Harris’ policy positions are “anti-Christ.”
Graham, who is the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, is the president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). He is also a long-time supporter of former President Donald Trump.
Graham has stood behind his support of Trump amid criminal indictments and sexual abuse allegations, and he told Premier Christian News that it would be “a great problem for the church if [Harris] was elected” because he “hasn’t seen any evidence of faith in her life.”
While Graham contends that his support for Trump and opposition to Harris is keeping with his father’s beliefs and values, a diversity of opinion exists on the matter, including within the Graham extended family.
Evangelicals for Harris, a political advocacy group seeking to mobilize American Christian to vote for Harris, has featured archival footage of Billy Graham in its attack ads about Trump. In these ads, Evangelicals for Harris use the late evangelist’s words to argue that Trump is morally unfit for leadership.
Jerushah Duford, a granddaughter of Billy Graham and niece of Franklin Graham, has lent her voice to support the group. In a Zoom call in August, Duford said that the 2024 election is a “pivotal point in our country’s future.”
“One of my grandfather’s favorite verses was Micah 6:8. What an incredible reminder of what the Lord requires of us: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly,” Duford said, seeking to draw a contrast between the Christian values of her grandfather and Trump having “bragged about assaulting women” and his “excuses for Jan. 6” and “for convicted assault and 34 felonies.”
“I’ve always stated that my president doesn’t have to be a Christian,” Duford said, “but I am and will be watching for my faith leaders to support actions that reflect mercy, justice, and humility, and for my faith leaders to rebuke actions that are the antithesis of that.”
RELATED: ‘He’s Wrong’—Trump Reveals Franklin Graham Told Him His Speeches Would Be Better If He Didn’t Cuss
Franklin Graham has taken exception to the likeness of his father being used to attack Trump and support Harris. In a social media post, he said, “The liberals are using anything and everything they can to promote candidate Harris. They even developed a political ad trying to use my father @BillyGraham’s image. They are trying to mislead people.”
