Trump's Influence On Liberty University Students: Who's On Board?

Liberty University, a Christian university in Virginia, has been a hub of conservative politics. The university's president, Jerry Falwell Jr., endorsed Donald Trump's candidacy, which caused a rift among students, with some supporting Trump and others forming groups like Liberty United Against Trump to oppose him. While some students were pleased with Trump's association with the university, others were frustrated and felt it damaged the school's reputation. Trump's appearance as a commencement speaker further divided students, with some celebrating and others feeling it took away from the graduation ceremony.

Liberty University's president Jerry Falwell Jr.'s endorsement of Trump

Falwell Jr.'s Endorsement of Trump

Falwell Jr. officially endorsed Trump in January 2016, calling him "a successful executive and entrepreneur, a wonderful father, and a man who I believe can lead our country to greatness again". He also said, "Jesus said 'Judge not, lest ye be judged.' Let’s stop trying to choose the political leaders who we believe are the most godly because, in reality, only God knows people’s hearts. You and I don’t, and we are all sinners." He further added that Trump was the only candidate who could have beaten Clinton.

Falwell Jr. compared Trump to his father, Jerry Falwell Sr., and even to Jesus, which was criticized by Michael Farris, a former leader of Jerry Falwell Sr.'s Moral Majority. He also said that Trump was a "blue-collar billionaire" and "one of the greatest visionaries of our time". He believed that Trump was the candidate most likely to defend the right to bear arms, stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power, and appoint conservative pro-life justices to the Supreme Court.

Students' Reaction to the Endorsement

Hundreds of students at Liberty University, a top US evangelical Christian university, came out against Trump despite Falwell Jr.'s endorsement. These students formed a group called Liberty United Against Trump and wrote an open letter stating that they did not wish to champion Trump but only to be champions for Jesus Christ. They also said that they were tired of being associated with Trump due to Falwell Jr.'s endorsement and that Trump did not represent their values. One of the members of the group, Dustin Wahl, said that Falwell Jr.'s endorsement blurred the line between Liberty University and its president.

However, there were also Liberty University students who were pleased with Trump's selection as the commencement speaker. One student, Whitney Rose, said that she thought it was great that the university invited influential speakers with unique beliefs. She also expressed excitement at hearing Trump's message for the graduates.

Aftermath of the Endorsement

Falwell Jr.'s endorsement of Trump caused a rift at Liberty University, with some students supporting it while others opposed it. It also led to criticism from evangelical leaders and members of the Board of Trustees, as well as a stream of Trump surrogates coming to the university's mandatory three-times-a-week convocation meetings leading up to the election. Ultimately, Falwell Jr.'s endorsement of Trump contributed to a divide among evangelicals and raised questions about the university president's influence, open discourse, and practicality versus principles in choosing a candidate.

Students' anti-Trump group Liberty United Against Trump

Students anti-Trump group Liberty United Against Trump

Overview

Hundreds of students at Liberty University, a top US evangelical Christian university, have come out against Donald Trump's candidacy for president. This is despite the university's president, Jerry Falwell Jr., being a vocal supporter of Trump and endorsing him in the 2016 election. The students have formed a group called Liberty United Against Trump and released a statement with hundreds of endorsements, expressing their desire to distance themselves from Trump and uphold their Christian values.

Formation and Purpose

The group Liberty United Against Trump was formed by students at Liberty University who opposed the association between their university and Donald Trump, fostered by President Jerry Falwell Jr.'s endorsement. In an open letter, the students stated that they wanted to "regain the integrity of their school" and clarify that Trump does not represent their values as Christians. They criticized Trump's comments about women and his promotion of values that contradict Christian teachings.

Student Perspectives

One of the group's leaders, Dustin Wahl, expressed disappointment in the university's continued association with Trump, including inviting him to speak at the commencement ceremony. Wahl and other students felt that this furthered the perception of Liberty University as an "anti-intellectual, populist university." However, some students welcomed Trump's visit, viewing it as an honour to hear from the President of the United States.

Impact and Response

The Liberty United Against Trump group's statement gained about 2,000 signatures from Liberty University's residential students, indicating a significant number of students shared their opposition to Trump. The group's efforts also sparked a broader discussion about the role of religious institutions in politics and the importance of upholding Christian values in the public sphere.

Reconciliation and Moving Forward

Despite the rift caused by Trump's candidacy, students, faculty, and staff at Liberty University have worked towards unity and reconciliation. While there was hurt and confusion among those with differing political views, many found common ground in their shared religious beliefs and priorities, such as religious liberty and pro-life values.

Trump's invitation to speak at the 2017 commencement ceremony

In May 2017, President Donald Trump gave the commencement address at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. This was the first time a sitting US president had delivered a commencement address at the university since George H.W. Bush in 1990. The invitation caused division among students, with some feeling frustrated about the school's continued association with Trump, and others feeling honoured to be visited by the President.

Trump's invitation to speak at the ceremony was in line with the university's history of inviting influential speakers with unique beliefs. The invitation was also a reflection of the university's and its president, Jerry Falwell Jr.'s, support for Trump. Falwell Jr. had endorsed Trump during his presidential campaign and welcomed him to speak at the school.

The announcement of Trump's commencement address sparked mixed reactions from Liberty University students. Some students, like Whitney Rose, a senior and Trump supporter, expressed excitement and felt honoured to hear from the President of the United States. On the other hand, Dustin Wahl, a junior at Liberty University and the founder of Liberty United Against Trump, viewed Trump's invitation as frustrating and disappointing. Wahl and other students criticised the university's continued association with Trump and believed that it portrayed Liberty University as an "anti-intellectual, populist university."

Despite the mixed reactions, Trump's commencement address marked a significant moment for the university, with a record crowd of about 50,000 people in attendance. During his speech, Trump congratulated the graduating class, encouraged them to pursue their dreams, and emphasised the importance of faith and service to the country.

Students' mixed reactions to Trump's commencement speech

The announcement that President Donald Trump would deliver the commencement address at Liberty University in 2017 divided the student body. For some, it was a source of frustration, as it continued the school's association with Trump. They saw Trump as a poor example of the values that a commencement speaker should embody. Dustin Wahl, a junior at Liberty University and the founder of Liberty United Against Trump, expressed his disappointment, fearing that Trump's presence would "give the impression that Liberty University is an anti-intellectual, populist university".

However, other students were pleased with the announcement, feeling honoured to be visited by the President of the United States. Whitney Rose, a Liberty senior and Trump supporter, was excited to hear Trump's message for graduates. She asked, "Who wouldn't be excited to hear from the President of the United States?"

Some students were more concerned about Trump's appearance overshadowing their graduation. Paige Hathaway, a senior at Liberty, explained that Trump's selection had already caused division among her family, with some members refusing to attend the commencement ceremony. Hathaway knew students who considered skipping Trump's speech, but she planned to attend despite her opposition to him.

Trump's appearance at Liberty University was not without controversy, reflecting the broader political and social divisions in American society. While some students and alumni of the Christian university supported Trump, others vehemently opposed him, seeing him as a poor representative of their values.

Trump's speech focused on populism and anti-establishment themes, urging graduates to embrace being outsiders and resist Washington's failed voices. He also pledged to protect religious freedom, a message that resonated with the audience.

The mixed reactions to Trump's commencement speech at Liberty University highlight the diverse political views among students at the school. While some celebrated his presence, others found it frustrating or concerning, reflecting a broader divide in American society.

Alumni's criticism of Falwell Jr.'s alignment with Trump

Alumnis criticism of Falwell Jr.'s alignment with Trump

Jerry Falwell Jr.'s endorsement of Donald Trump for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election caused Liberty University alumni and other evangelicals to suggest that Falwell had "sold his soul". This endorsement came after Trump's personal lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, had helped Falwell recover compromising photos of himself.

Falwell called Trump "America's blue-collar billionaire" and "one of the greatest visionaries of our time". He also said that Trump was the candidate most likely to defend the "right to bear arms", "stop Iran...from becoming a nuclear power", and "appoint conservative pro-life justices to the Supreme Court".

Hundreds of students at Liberty University, the top US evangelical Christian university, came out against Trump. They formed a new group, Liberty United Against Trump, and wrote an open letter that garnered hundreds of endorsements. In the letter, they expressed their desire to "regain the integrity of our school" and their fatigue at being associated with "one of the worst presidential candidates in American history". They also noted that Trump's comments about women would be grounds for termination for any Liberty faculty or staff member.

Falwell's response to these concerns was, "We're all sinners."

Alumnus Johnnie Moore, who worked at Liberty for 13 years and now serves on Trump's evangelical advisory board, characterised the disagreement as "a family fight". He emphasised that, despite their differences, most evangelicals are united in their concerns about religious liberty and abortion rights.

Alumnus Dustin Wahl, who founded Liberty United Against Trump, expressed disappointment at Trump's selection as the commencement speaker in 2017. He felt it furthered the impression that Liberty University is "an anti-intellectual, populist university". However, Wahl acknowledged that he wasn't surprised by the announcement, given Trump's relationship with Falwell and the University.

Some alumni criticised Falwell for comparing Trump to his father, Jerry Falwell Sr., and to Jesus. Michael Farris, a former leader of Jerry Falwell Sr.'s Moral Majority, was among those who took issue with this comparison.

Falwell's leadership at Liberty University came under fire from multiple quarters, including members of Congress and a Reuters investigation, which uncovered various instances of alleged misconduct, including authoritarian control over employees and students, nepotism, and crude discussions about his sex life at work.

In August 2020, Falwell took a leave of absence from his position at Liberty University following a social media photo controversy. He eventually resigned amid a sex scandal involving allegations of his wife's affair and his own involvement.

Frequently asked questions