The following guest sermon was submitted by ULC Minister Gerry Varella. All ULC Ministers are invited to contribute their own sermons for consideration/publication. To submit a sermon, please email it to sermons@ulc.org.
Earlier this month, President Trump shared a text message sent to him by Mike Huckabee, the US Ambassador to Israel. The text, which was reposted on both Trump’s personal X account and the official White House account, sends a bold message: Huckabee tells Trump he was spared by God in the assassination attempt on his life last year, and that reason is now clear.
According to Huckabee, God will tell Trump directly how to proceed in the Israel-Iran conflict.
Many viewed Trump’s personal repost as an endorsement or cosigning of Huckabee’s sentiment, and Trump himself has stated previously he believes he was spared by God in Butler for a higher purpose.
I saw many people online critical of the president for endorsing Huckabee's message. They posed questions like: "Do we really want a commander in chief acting on the whims of what God whispers in his ear?"
But such an arrangement is not as unusual as it sounds.
In fact, many presidents throughout U.S. history are claimed (by themselves or others) to be divinely guided. So here's my question: does God truly speak to the president?
And if so, what does that mean for us? Here's what my research found.
Providence and the President
Presidents often believe themselves to be God’s instrument in times of great conflict and turmoil.
Though he stopped short of ever claiming to speak directly with God, Abraham Lincoln often reflected on his role in God’s divine will in the depths of the Civil War. “I hold myself in my present position and with the authority vested in me as an instrument of Providence,” he is reported as saying.
“I am conscious every moment that all I am and all I have is subject to the control of a Higher Power, and that Power can use me or not use me in any manner, and at any time, as in His wisdom and might may be pleasing to Him.”
Lincoln believed he was chosen for this incredible moment in American history, but notably had to shut out other voices telling him the same. Indeed, Lincoln heard from both abolitionists and non-abolitionists alike that their agenda was God’s will; Lincoln didn’t claim to know God’s exact plan, just that He had one, and that it was often complicated and mysterious.
“God wills this contest,” he wrote of the Civil War, “and wills that it shall not end yet.”
Lincoln approached leadership with humility, suggesting that we should not ask whether God is on our side, but whether we are on God’s side.
‘I Am Cyrus’
Harry S. Truman seemingly believed he was carrying out God’s will in the creation of the state of Israel. In 1953, after his presidency, Truman was introduced at a speaking engagement by Eddie Jacobson as “the man who helped create the State of Israel.”
“What do you mean, ‘helped to create’?” Truman responded. “I am Cyrus, I am Cyrus.”
Truman was referencing the Persian king Cyrus the Great, who overthrew the Babylonian empire and helped bring the exiled Jews back to Jerusalem. Truman was a deeply faithful man, and his words reinforce a belief that he was not only like Cyrus; He was a modern-day Cyrus, chosen by God at an extraordinary moment of history to single-handedly return the Jews to Israel.
A Direct Line to God
If Truman was chosen by God to create modern-day Israel, George W. Bush, a born-again Christian, said he was chosen by God to protect it. Bush reportedly said he often talked to God directly in the wake of 9/11.
According to former Palestinian foreign minister Nabil Shaath, President Bush told him "I'm driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, 'George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan.' And I did, and then God would tell me, 'George go and end the tyranny in Iraq,' and I did."
"I feel God's words coming to me: 'Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East.',” Shaath says Bush explained. “And by God, I'm gonna do it."
Related: The People on Earth With a Direct Line to God
Does God Speak to the President?
I don't claim to have the answer. I do know there are plenty of examples of presidents saying the Almighty is on their side, from Washington’s belief that Providence had a hand in his field successes during the American Revolution, to Trump’s assertion God spared him from an assassin's bullet.
The truth is, the line between faith and politics in American leadership has always been blurred. At times, this blending has inspired unity and moral conviction. At others, it has served to justify war, division, or unchecked power.
Either way, the suggestion that God speaks directly to the president carries profound implications, for the nation, for the world, and for the very spirit of democracy.
34 comments
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John Condron
Well...the current US President almost certainly hears voices!
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James Riggle-Johnson
I know many evangelical “tRumplicans” want to believe that God speaks directly to their candidate—but they’re wrong. They’re not the first to confuse divine will with personal ambition. The Russian Orthodox Church told Putin the same thing about his war in Ukraine. Extremists who’ve hijacked Islam claim similar revelations. But this isn’t God speaking—it’s ego dressed up as prophecy.
God’s voice, if one believes He speaks to us, doesn’t come through noise, anger, or ambition. It comes in stillness, humility, and a willingness to listen. And frankly, I don’t think our president’s mind has ever been quiet enough to hear it.
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Rev. BH
Huckabee - what a kiss ***. Trump - slapped a blood cartridge on his ear. God - "Trump, do something about the American killed by Putin's bombings!"
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Colleen McAllister
I usually distrust anyone who says "God told me" about anything. Does He talk to Presidents? Probably. Do they listen? History says no or very rarely. As to the present guy? He is evil.
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Patricia Ann Gross
Exactly. It's like God answering prayer. God always answers prayer, and sometimes the answer is "NO." Too often, we only hear what we want to, and if we don't hear that we change what we heard to something we can live with.
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Brien
Does a fictional character speak with an almost fictional president? Sure, why not. I myself am waiting for the next big laugh. The next reality show, "The president hears voices". I bet it gets great ratings.
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Alexander Clarke
And they claim Biden is senile.
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Joe Stutler
Short answer: No Slightly longer answer: Of course not, silly! 🙂
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Clay Serenbetz
Does God speak to those who are delusional, as a rule?
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amacooke
My thought is not whether God speaks to anyone, its more which 'god' (lowercase intentional). From my experience, there are plenty of other entities that pretend to be gods and drive people insane if they can. It's easy to push someone over the edge if they are already standing on it.
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Patricia Sydney Solis
The problem with Trump though is that he thinks he is God! Trump thinks God, as Trump, is speaking to himself! Remember the Japanese pre World War II thought their emperor was divine and that ended badly. Hitler also declared he was doing God‘s work. He ended up a suicide. The delusional have lots of room for God to do their mass murder for them. Let’s not forget the cult leaders, like Jim Jones, they all were divinely guided in mass murder.
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Walter Abington
God speaks to Trump as much as it spoke to Hitler.
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Elvin St. James
God speaks to everyone according to the situation. Interpretation and action are the key results of the conversation
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Lionheart
We actually don’t know whether any of the world’s created gods are real, so until then, I am of the belief that none exist. If people like to believe a deity speaks to them, I’m ok with it, as long as that mythological deity doesn’t have them convinced we all need to die if we don’t have the same belief as them. The mental illness of religion can do that, as has been demonstrated in the past by some religions.
🦁❤️
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Brien
In present day as well my friend. The only thing real is the mental psychosis that zealots suffer from. Peace ✌️
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Rev. BH
Lionheart, most all religions (i.e. "gods") offer a version of the Golden Rule. The ones who screw it all up are the prophets, preachers and politicians. Don't blame "the mental illness of religion", blame those who use it for their personal benefit. Like selling God Bless The USA bibles for 60 bucks a pop.
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Alexander Clarke
The Golden Rule, as I recall, is that those with the gold rule. Maybe I got that from political fliers.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
This says everything, we need to know about this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMS2dyqqCCY
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James Riggle-Johnson
Wow... that is powerful. Thank you for posting that link.
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Bruce Kendall
Trufully, I am interested in knowing what god (lowercase intentional) Trump actually believes in.
I find it hard to believe a christian can hate as much as Trump does. If someone belives they can, a new testmant Jesus reference would be helpful.
Now if we are discussing evil, that would be a no brainer.
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Alexander Clarke
Trumps god is wealth and power and being the center of attention. In his mind he is god.
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John P Maher
DID YOU EVER SEE THE MOVIE " THE GODs MUST BE CRAZY " ???
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Martin L Stigleman
This article references Presidents who worked to defend the Country...who built up people and secured peace for our Nation. These men used Christian values (the REAL ones, not the ones that modern ones that reinforce hate for whatever you want to hate on a particular day) in their attempts to strengthen the Country, and their claims to follow what God told them to do were based on Faith and the actual tenets of Christianity. ANYONE who feels that the current administration follows Christianity in any way, shape, or form is seriously and hopelessly lost. tRumps deeds are based ENTIRELY on hate, bigotry, and his lust for wealth and power. He has never in his life performed an altruistic act. Anything he has ever done that helped anyone besides himself was in pursuit of his own agenda. Even his sharing of the message from the delusional Huckabee was a promotion of himself to the public and a pat of his con to keep the MAGA hate group in his pocket.
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Alexander Clarke
Well said!
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Bernie James Rocheleau
I think the George W Bush comments are precious. God told him to fight terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan. So WHO IS God? Dick Cheney or Donald Rumsfeld?
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Florencio Guevara
It's common knowledge that President Abe Lincoln's wife, as well as he, celebrated seances inside the White House. There were many mediums who worked at these seances. Even decisions that were critical were reached with the assistance of the many spirits that passed through during the seance. Almost every President we've had has been a Mason or Rosicrucian, and other well known people, i.e., Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, mathmaticians, scientists, and philosophers that directly impacted the presidency... Every time we haven't had one, inner turmoil finds its way home...
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Rev. Donut
Well, God can speak to anyone.
Barroom Sanitation Specialist or President.
All they have to do is hear it happening.
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Minister Dixon
We do not have a monarch, we pray for our elected leaders. I believe we have a loving God and He hear our prayers.
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Alexander Clarke
If he heard mine we would not be in the mess we are in. If he heard my ex-wife's I would be dead.
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Shawn David Spencer
Well I'm back from my task, though it is not safe to be associated to me right now. My task that I had to leave you all for a while involved a serious threat to all religious believers and I have stood against the source of our unholy adversary to ensure he shall always remain the defeated adversary, paving the path for Michael's victory. This has left me a target for this enemy and his presence is like a shadow over me now, but the Lord is mightier than the sword, he shall not prevail. So in short, yes, I can answer some of these questions. I will not say if it is or isn't true, for I do not have direct knowledge of such things at this time, except for Trump's situation. Know this to be true for it is wisdom of one who knows. If God speaks to someone or is being commanded by God then there will be no question. God makes it very clear when he is speaking to someone. The visions described by the prophets does not truly encompass the magnitude of their experience. Any and all who stand before the true almighty are so immensely impacted by the event they become, "humbled in his presence" Moses hair turned white, various figures of biblical history are said to have lived beyond their years, just the fact of Saul encountering the divinity of the son blinded him.. I myself was completely reconstructed from my core from the person I once was to become the martyr that was needed to fulfill my task against the evil one, the taint behind our tribulations, that allows me to speak to you of the things that I do, the holy Spirit that I am a vessel for. That was what I was remade to do. If Trump thinks he has a direct line to God it is most likely because he thinks he can manipulate it from me. When I say that I know these things it is because it is what the holy spirit has led me to understand it to be.
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Alexander Clarke
I see that the therapy didn't work.
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Marcin Lewandowski
Our Lord, Jesus Christ, said it best: MY kingdom is NOT of this world (or age). Plain and simple. His life was on the line before Pilate and he could have said "yes, I am a king AND this is my kingdom, this world, this age" since he was working toward getting crucified based on God's, His Father's, instructions. But, no, he had told Pilate the truth and Pilate almost released him. In fact, had Pilate prevailed, Jesus would have been free and not crucified. So that's how we know that Jesus had told the truth AND meant what he said. Yet, so many political and faith leaders don't understand this thinking God, who before Christ, had used and lead leaders for His purposes, ceased doing that after Christ's resurrection because His purpose - providing everlasting life to those who's choose it, had been accomplished. There are now no more missions or people whom God uses to affect world's history because Christ is THE ONLY leader who will ultimately and permanently affect it when He comes back to establish His Kingdom and rule the upcoming age
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Alexander Clarke
There are multitudes of murderers, religious leaders, religious people, politicos, dictators, crazies, misfits, et al that claim that "god" speaks to them.
The far more interesting question is "Does the President think God speaks to him?" If so, is that faith or delusion or simply political expediency? The leaders who claim they are following the divine word don't seem to be able to interpret what they hear. They use their divine communication to excuse the most horrible offenses against God's people and his creations.