Christianity Today, influential evangelical magazine, says Trump 'should be removed from office'

Savannah Behrmann | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Christian Today editorial calls for President Donald Trump's removal Christian Today's website briefly crashed after posting an editorial calling for President Trump to be removed from office.

WASHINGTON – Influential evangelical magazine, Christianity Today, released an editorial Thursday calling for President Donald Trump to be removed from office.

“That he should be removed, we believe, is not a matter of partisan loyalties but loyalty to the Creator of the Ten Commandments,” the magazine's editor-in-chief, Mark Galli, penned.

The evangelical publication was founded by late legendary preacher Billy Graham. His son, Franklin Graham, has been one of Trump's most ardent Evangelical defenders. Recently, Graham compared Trump's political foes to "demonic forces."

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After writing that Galli did believe Democrats "have had it out for [Trump] from day one", the article continued that, in their view, nevertheless "The president of the United States attempted to use his political power to coerce a foreign leader to harass and discredit one of the president’s political opponents. That is not only a violation of the Constitution; more importantly, it is profoundly immoral."

After the editorial was posted, the magazine's site briefly crashed from drawing so many readers.

Thanks for sharing Shane. Also, we're back up! https://t.co/PxEVNnWkM9 — Christianity Today (@CTmagazine) December 19, 2019

The magazine used some of their critique from President Bill Clinton's impeachment 20 years ago, including that "Unsavory dealings and immoral acts by the President and those close to him have rendered this administration morally unable to lead."

The article didn't just criticize Trump, but also his staunch Christian followers.

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Trump has touted a strong following from religious voters and typically receives high praise from the Christian-right. An October survey displayed that 77% of white evangelical Protestants approve of Trump’s performance while those who report attending church weekly were more likely to approve than those who attend less often, 81% versus 73%.

Galli wrote, "To the many evangelicals who continue to support Mr. Trump in spite of his blackened moral record, we might say this: Remember who you are and whom you serve. Consider how your justification of Mr. Trump influences your witness to your Lord and Savior.”

The article continued to slam the president for having "dumbed down the idea of morality in his administration."

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"He has hired and fired a number of people who are now convicted criminals. He himself has admitted to immoral actions in business and his relationship with women, about which he remains proud. His Twitter feed alone—with its habitual string of mischaracterizations, lies, and slanders—is a near perfect example of a human being who is morally lost and confused," they stated.

Contributing: William Cummings