Addressing Donald Trump at the National Cathedral’s inauguration service, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, looking the incoming president in the eye, pleaded with him: “to have mercy on people who are scared and help those facing persecution”.
Bishop Mariann Budde did not mince her words. In particular, she referenced the LGBTQI community following the president’s statement that the US officially recognises two genders, male and female. Asked at the door of the Cathedral what he thought about the service, he responded to the journalist: “what did you think, not very exciting was it. I did not think it was a good service, they could do much better”. Similar answer to the one he gave about Gaza: the 140-mile Gaza Strip, which is on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, is “the best location in the Middle East.”
“It could be better than Monaco. The best water, the best everything. It’s got, it is the best, I’ve said it for years. You know, I’ve been there, and it’s rough. It’s a rough place, before the, you know, before all of the attacks and before the back-and-forth, what’s happened over the last couple of years”.
The cameras remained focused on Donald Trump and his entourage throughout the approximately 15-minute address.
Bishop Budde’s words centred around three qualities she considered to be at the heart of leadership. Only Trump would know what went through his mind as the bishop spoke, one can only assume either he thought he exemplified these qualities or that she was wrong, that leadership is not about exhibiting these qualities.
Integrity
In his inauguration speeches, and in his issue of pardons for the year 2020 attackers of the Congress, Donald Trump continues to insist that the election was rigged; in so doing he calls into question the integrity of an essential pillar of American democracy – the ballot box. Where that might lead in the next four years is unknown; and whether a Republican majority House and Senate will allow him unfettered power, including change of the constitution, is unclear. However, it is clear he is psychologically incapable of accepting any outcome or situation in which he is not triumphant. On his first day in office, he announced the sacking of at least one thousand public servants whom he fears would give him truthful and fearless advice. He has made it clear that in his administration there is no room for anyone who will not support his own position, whatever that position might be. Narcissistic behaviours deny the exhibitor any chance of recognisable integrity. A narcissist believes a critic is not simply ill-informed, but at best a fool, easy fodder for lampooning, or more probably an evil opponent who needs to be dealt with. To be a narcissist and leader of the supposed most powerful country in the world is a fearful thing. For this leader to now be in a position of unfettered power with what appears to be a compliant government and judiciary is terrifying.
Honesty
In 2020 Donald Trump appealed to rust bucket electors with the promise he would “drain the swamp” of government elites he claimed were keeping them poor. In reality, he has established the most obvious bevy of elites ever enlisted behind a president. The difference this time is that these are the ‘ultra-wealthy’ who deem it right to redesign the country after their likeness and ambition. Amongst them are those who have successfully lobbied for the removal of any fact checking provision, a need which has grown exponentially with the growth of AI. By exiting WHO and the Paris Accord, Trump has already begun withdrawal from any global accountability. It appears that in the MAGA textbook, any form of fact checking, or accountability, outside the inner circle of the new coterie of elite is unacceptable.
In his inauguration address Trump said he was saved by God (a reference to the Pennsylvania attempted assassination), “to Make America Great Again”. Apparently, even God is subject to Trump’s will. His statement infers that God is the tribal God of the US. In her address Bishop Budde reminded the president and other members of the congregation that prayers for justice, peace, unity, were of no value unless the actions of the petitioner mirrored the petition.
Humility
From the earliest known Christian hymn, (Philippians 2: 6 – 11), we know that humility is an inescapable foundation to transformational leadership:
Christ, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God
As something to be exploited but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave
And being found in human form he humbled himself
And became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.
This really is the hub of the matter, illustrating the futility and dishonesty of MAGA. Nothing is made great, or greater again, through transactional deals. An individual life, a community, a nation can only be made ‘great again’ through transformational, action, intention, and leadership, of which Donald J Trump is clearly incapable. Transactional deals, because they are based on ‘winning’ at the cost of others’ loss, lack integrity and speed up the inevitable entropic process.
Transformational leadership is founded on the virtues so clearly articulated by the Bishop. Given the expectations of her congregation that day, it would have taken considerable courage to speak as she did.
But then again, courage is the queen of virtues, for without it, it is not possible to exhibit any of the others. Brazen self-interest and courage are not bedfellows.
George Browning was Anglican Bishop of Canberra Goulburn 1993 – 2008. He was President of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network 2013 – 2022. He is now its Patron. He is also Patron of Palestinian Christians in Australia, and of the Palestinian ecumenical liberation theology centre -Sabeel.
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