Long before Jesus ever knew of the existence of America, as he wandered through different lands preaching the word of God, he proclaimed, “America First!”

At least, this is what right-wing Christian forces want you to believe. In one breath, they claim to be guided by their core faith values. But in the next breath, these same voices purport that we need to prioritize Americans and forget about people in other countries. 

Now, this line of thinking is fueling some of the most abhorrent, unChristian policymaking this nation has ever seen. The hypocrisy is disgusting. And on top of that, these policies are also hurting Americans

It’s painfully apparent that rightwing forces love to refer to Jesus when it supports their radical interests. They’ve constantly used a twisted version of Christianity to justify dismantling DEI policies, undermining LGBTQ+ rights, destroying women’s right to choose, and dismantling federal institutions that serve vulnerable communities. At the National Prayer Breakfast, for instance, President Trump proclaimed that we need to “bring God back into our lives.”

Apparently, these principles stop at the border. Take for example, the Trump administration’s careless destruction of USAID – an agency that has received staunch bipartisan support for more than sixty years. In one foul swoop, the administration severed tens of billions in foreign aid contracts, leaving troves of life-saving programs in grave danger. Now, programs that feed malnourished children, prevent HIV and malaria, improve access to health care, protect women from violence, and assist disabled children are all in jeopardy – wreaking havoc across the globe.