We knew it was coming. When Trump announced a press conference following the successful raid that killed “Austere Religious Scholar,” prolific child-rapist, and expert neck-chopper Abu al-Baghdadi, we expected some classic Trumpian gloating.
Sure enough, Sunday’s morning press conference was Trump at his Trumpiest. “[Babhdadi] ran into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way,” Trump said. “He died like a dog, he died like a coward. The world is now a much safer place.” Cue the hysterical fainting from the Left and self-righteous handwringing from the never-Trump Right.
I think both sides can agree on a shared sadness over the loss of civility in our political rhetoric. We can also agree that Trump has plenty of faults. But I think his response to Baghdadi’s death, whether planned or instinctual, was not only pitch-perfect. It was moral- refreshingly moral, and here’s why.
Trump spoke effectively to the Arab culture of honor and shame
We Westerners have a hard time understanding the Arab system of honor and shame. Many of us would die for our families or our country, but how many of us would kill or be killed to preserve our honor? Shame in the Arab community is a fate worse than death. By highlighting the shamefulness of Baghdadi’s cowardly end, he sets him up as a character to be ostracized rather than admired. Setting al-Baghdadi up as an object of shame is an extremely effective deterrent to those who may have otherwise taken up his cause.
Trump appealed to the ancient Arab tribal culture of power and fear
When Obama announced the death of Bin-Laden, it was done with careful sensitivity to avoid offending the Muslim community. Details of his death were hidden and he was given a proper burial following traditional Muslim guidelines. There’s something to be admired about the American instinct for cultural sensitivity and respect, but this respect is lost on a tribal culture that only respects power. Jesus’ command to “turn the other cheek” was directed to individuals, not governments. Of governments, the scriptures tell us that “they do not bear the sword in vain.” There is scriptural basis for governments imposing terrifying justice against evil. Putting the fear of God in the hearts of evildoers is a moral and appropriate role of government.
Trump appealed to our need for justice
Proverbs 21:15 says “When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.” Seeing justice done fills a deep need in the human heart. Al-Baghdadi raped, tortured, and executed countless women and children. He led a caliphate responsible for some of the most ghoulishly documented horrors against human beings the world has ever seen. It is proper and moral to celebrate justice being served.
Was Trump thinking about Arab honor/shame culture or appealing to Godly justice when he prepared his remarks? Maybe, but I doubt it. He has used the “like a dog” rhetoric for decades. His daughter Ivanka Trump once told a late-night host that her father had promised to “fire her like a dog” just like he would anyone else if she messed up. Trump is just being Trump.
That’s why I think that Trump, by divine providence, is simply the right man, in the right place, at the right time. Regardless of how we Christians feel about him, I think we can all agree that “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, and he turns it wherever he wills.”
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