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Evangelical preacher Andrew Wommack said that a "civil war" would be "worth it" if it meant getting former President Donald Trump back into the White House.
"I've actually had people say that if Trump was to be elected if we got a conservative Congress, that they fear that we would have another civil war," Wommack said during a Wednesday episode of his Truth & Liberty show. "And you know what? I don't want a civil war, I don't know anybody that does, but would it be worth it? To turn this nation back? I believe it would."
The growing political divide in the United States has sparked speculations that a war could break out at any moment over the escalating feuds between Republicans and Democrats. Trump supporters have repeatedly suggested that if he doesn't win the 2024 election, there will be a civil war. Trump is currently the frontrunner in the Republican primary race.
"Andrew Wommack's comments during the program were clear that Christians and other citizens should exercise their voting rights and not be dissuaded from that duty out of fear of violent acts by people who oppose their views," a Truth & Liberty Coalition spokesperson told Newsweek. "At no time did Mr. Wommack call for, or even suggest that, civil war is a goal or an expectation. Mr. Wommack also emphasized that our Constitution is not in need of changing, indeed it is vital that we adhere to its principles."
Wommack's remarks came in response to a call from a viewer who asked if it would be possible to have a "grace revolution" that would create a nation that would "use the Bible as the Constitution." In response, Wommack said there was nothing wrong with the U.S. Constitution, but rather the "problem" is that no one is following it.
"If they were still writing the Bible today, I believe that the American Constitution and the founding of this nation would be in scripture as one of the great things that God has done," he said.
A clip of the segment posted to X, formerly Twitter, by Right Wing Watch has been viewed more than 64,300 times.
Some social media users criticized Wommack, arguing that he himself hadn't read the Constitution since "America's Founders were very clear about not having a state religion of any kind," and pointing out the irony of his statements given the rights guaranteed under the 1st Amendment. Others tagged federal, state and local FBI offices, suggesting that they monitor Wommack's activities.
"Eventually they always let everyone know that they want a return to the Confederacy," one person commented.
Last month, Trump called the Civil War "so fascinating, so horrible."
"So many mistakes were made," the former president said at a rally in Iowa. "See, there was something I think could have been negotiated, to be honest with you. I think you could have negotiated that. All the people died, so many people died. You know, that was the disaster."
An estimated 620,000 soldiers died in the Civil War from 1861 to 1865.
Update 02/10/24 12:44 p.m. This article was updated with comments from the Truth & Liberty Coalition.
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About the writer
Katherine Fung is a Newsweek senior reporter based in New York City. She has covered U.S. politics and culture extensively. ... Read more