In a heated exchange that has grabbed national attention, Christian evangelist Franklin Graham, son of the late Billy Graham, sharply criticized the “Evangelicals for Harris” organization for using his father’s image in a political ad aimed at former President Donald Trump. This controversy unfolds against the backdrop of a deeply polarized political landscape, where faith and politics often intertwine.
Franklin Graham, who currently serves as the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, has long been a prominent figure in American evangelical circles. His father, Billy Graham, was not only a world-renowned evangelist but also an enduring icon of American culture. A testament to his lasting influence, a statue of Billy Graham was recently placed in the U.S. Capitol, cementing his legacy in the nation’s history.
The ad in question was created by Evangelicals for Harris, a group that evolved from Evangelicals for Biden and is a project of Faith Voters, a 501(c)4 organization. This group hosted a Zoom conference on Wednesday, led by Ekemini Uwan, a known advocate for reparations, who has previously expressed strong views on the need to reform policing in America. The ad juxtaposes footage of Billy Graham speaking about the importance of confessing one’s sins with a vintage interview of Donald Trump, in which he hesitated when asked if he had ever sought God’s forgiveness.
Franklin Graham was upset. Taking to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, he condemned the use of his father’s image in the ad. He shared a screenshot of the ad from the official Morning Joe account and argued that his father, if alive today, would likely support Trump. “The liberals are using anything and everything they can to promote candidate Harris,” Graham wrote. “They even developed a political ad trying to use my father @BillyGraham’s image. 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.”
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. Maybe they don’t know that my father appreciated the conservative values and… pic.twitter.com/LZe3SEm9Al
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) August 14, 2024
In response, the official Evangelicals for Harris account replied with a simple yet pointed message: “Praying for you” followed by a heart emoji. The group later added, “The issue, Franklin, is that in your worship of Trump you have forsaken the Gospel. We are voting for Harris but we only worship Jesus. Remember the calling to which you were called. You know the Lord’s grace is always ready to receive you.”
The issue, Franklin, is that in your worship of Trump you have forsaken the Gospel.
We are voting for Harris but we only worship Jesus. Remember the calling to which you were called. You know the Lord’s grace is always ready to receive you. https://t.co/MpPz5OmKCg
— Evangelicals For Harris (@Evangels4Harris) August 15, 2024
This clash comes just weeks after Franklin Graham’s prominent appearance at the Republican National Convention in July, where he voiced strong support for Trump. During the event, Graham expressed gratitude for Trump’s leadership as the 45th President and voiced confidence in his potential return to office as the 47th. In a particularly poignant moment, Graham led a prayer, thanking God for protecting Trump after an attempted assassination at a rally in Pennsylvania. He closed by asking God to “Make America Great Again,” echoing Trump’s famous campaign slogan.
