Ken Oliver Mendes
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 18, 2024, 9:15 a.m.
Awareness of the paranormal has taken an extraordinary turn at this year’s Republican National Convention, following former US President Donald Trump’s narrow escape from an assassination attempt.
At Democratic and Republican presidential nominating conventions, invocations of the Creator of life’s presence and blessings are typically limited to opening and closing prayers of convention sessions or concluding phrases of speeches.
But this year, former President Trump and his supporters have frequently invoked God’s role in human affairs. Just before the convention began, and a day after Trump avoided being hit by a bullet by turning his neck, he said “only God” saved his life. Trump’s supporters have frequently repeated that sentiment in conversations and convention speeches.
“God was with me,” Trump told convention delegates on Wednesday, adding that the close call “changes your attitude, your outlook on life in many ways, and I honestly think it makes you even more grateful to God.”
Pauline Schultz, a Catholic who traveled from Minnesota to attend the convention, said she believes Trump’s new beginning marks the start of a new chapter not just for him but for the country as a whole.
“When President Trump returns to the presidency, I think he will be a changed man, I think he will be led by the Holy Spirit and I think he will be gentle in spirit, but he will lead powerfully,” Schultz said. “I think we as a nation are reawakening, or heading towards an awakening,” she added.
Former US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan commented on the fact that at the critical moment when bullets were flying towards him at high speed, President Trump had turned his head to look at a projected graph showing the flow of illegal immigrants.
“I’m a Christian too and I believe in divine intervention and I think that’s what we saw that day,” Morgan told CNA. “If he hadn’t turned his head and seen that chart, we would have been at the funeral.”
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina also emphasized this point in his convention speech. “If you didn’t believe in miracles before Saturday, you should believe in them now,” Scott said. “I thank God Almighty that I live in a nation that still believes in the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, our God, our God who still saves, who still delivers, who still sets us free.”
“The Devil came to Pennsylvania Saturday with his rifle,” Scott added, “but the American Lion rose up and roared.”
Florida Senator Marco Rubio also addressed the issue head on in his convention speech, saying, “The past few days have reminded us that the life of every living thing and the breath of humanity are held in God’s hands.”
“We were pushed to the brink and, by the hand of God, we were reminded of what is truly important in our lives and our country,” the Catholic senator said, pointing to Trump’s incredible feat: “In the face of hurt and danger, he stood up, raised his fist and reminded us that our people and our country are always worth fighting for.”
Dr. Ben Carson, renowned neurosurgeon and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, told Americans on Tuesday in his own deeply spiritual address to convention delegates that “these events have brought unusual clarity to the times in which we live.”
“I have no doubt that God has put down a shield to protect President Trump,” Carson said, “and I join millions of Americans in giving thanks for his safety, and I ask you to join me in praying every day for his continued protection.”
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Meanwhile, Bob Unanue, CEO of Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic food company in the U.S. and a Catholic, recalled to delegates that “four years ago I boldly said that I was blessed by Donald J. Trump” and that that statement sparked fierce calls from Democrats to boycott the company’s products and “got in trouble for it.”
Unanue slammed the Biden administration for attacking “traditional Catholics” and called Trump “a courageous leader who will bring this country closer to God.”
Even the prayers and blessings were more fervent than usual, and Pastor Corey Brooks of New Beginnings Church in Chicago used the opportunity to lead the delegates in a long and loud shout of praise. “Why?” Pastor Brooks asked rhetorically, to which he quickly replied, “This week could have been a week of mourning, but God would not allow that to happen, and so this week is going to be a week of celebration and life.”
Ken Oliver Mendes is Editor in Chief of Catholic News Agency, which provides general interest news to Catholics around the world through its regional correspondents, bureaus and sister services, including ACI Prensa, ACI Stampa, CNA Deutsch, ACI Africa, ACI Afrique, ACI Mena and ACI Digital. A Washington-born journalist, Ken has held various positions in journalism and public policy, including former Director of Professional Media at the White House, News Editor at NBC Radio and Evening News Producer at Radio Martí.
