In a political season already bursting with surprises, it’s not every day that a spat between evangelical leaders takes center stage. But when the late Billy Graham’s legacy is involved, things are bound to get heated. And let’s be honest, nothing stirs the pot quite like mixing faith, politics, and a touch of social media drama.

You’d think we were in the middle of a church sermon with all the fiery rhetoric flying around, but nope—this is just another day in the 2024 election cycle.

Now, it’s not uncommon for religious leaders to weigh in on politics, but this latest clash has left many shaking their heads. It all started when “Evangelicals for Harris”—a group that’s clearly not shy about making bold statements—decided to use footage of the legendary Billy Graham in a new attack ad against former President Donald Trump. The ad cleverly juxtaposed Billy Graham talking about the importance of confessing one’s sins with an old interview of Trump where he hesitated to say if he’d ever asked God for forgiveness.

Subtle? Not so much. Controversial? Absolutely. Now, the famous preacher’s son is speaking out.

From Fox News:
Christian evangelist Franklin Graham blasted the “Evangelicals for Harris” organization for using footage of his late father in an attack ad against former President Trump…

“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,” he wrote in a social media post. “They are trying to mislead people. Maybe they don’t know that my father appreciated the conservative values and policies of President @realDonaldTrump in 2016, and if he were alive today, my father’s views and opinions would not have changed.”

Enter Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s son and the current president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Franklin didn’t waste any time taking to social media to express his outrage. And who could blame him?

Seeing his father’s image used in an ad that promotes a candidate he believes his father would never support was more than enough to get him fired up. On X (formerly Twitter), Franklin shared a screenshot of the ad from the Morning Joe account and didn’t mince words in his condemnation.

“The liberals are using anything and everything they can to promote candidate Harris,” Franklin wrote. “They even developed a political ad trying to use my father @BillyGraham’s image. They are trying to mislead people.”

For Franklin, this wasn’t just a political attack—it was a personal affront to his father’s memory. He reminded everyone that his father had supported Trump’s conservative values and policies in 2016, and he firmly believes that if Billy Graham were alive today, he’d still be in Trump’s corner.

Of course, “Evangelicals for Harris” wasn’t about to let that slide. The group responded with a message that was equal parts condescending and cryptic: “Praying for you” with a heart emoji. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any spicier, they followed up with a tweet accusing Franklin of “forsaking the Gospel” in his support of Trump. They claimed to worship Jesus, not Harris, and suggested that Franklin had lost his way.

The exchange highlights the growing divide within the evangelical community as political loyalties collide with religious convictions. Franklin’s fiery defense of Trump at the Republican National Convention in July, where he thanked God for saving Trump’s life after an assassination attempt, only underscores how deeply intertwined his faith and political beliefs have become.

As the election season heats up, this feud is likely to be just one of many skirmishes in the ongoing battle for the hearts and minds of religious voters. With faith-based groups taking increasingly vocal stands on both sides, the role of religion in the 2024 election is shaping up to be more pivotal—and more polarizing—than ever before.

Key Takeaways:

• Franklin Graham condemned “Evangelicals for Harris” for using his late father’s image in an attack ad against Trump.
• The controversy reflects deep divisions within the evangelical community over support for Trump versus Harris.
• As religious groups take sides, the role of faith in the 2024 election is becoming increasingly central and contentious.

Source: Fox News