Pastor Gets Dragged For Saying Bible Gives Trump “Moral Authority” To Kill Kim Jong Un

A Texas megachurch pastor who serves as one of President Donald Trump's evangelical advisors is getting criticized for his take on Trump's strategy in confronting North Korea. More specifically, people were upset by what Pastor Robert Jeffress said about Trump and North Korea because Jeffress asserted that the president is given "moral authority" by the Bible to "take out" North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Jeffress cited the book of Romans when he explained to the Washington Post,

That gives the government … the authority to do whatever, whether it's assassination, capital punishment or evil punishment to quell the actions of evildoers like Kim Jong Un.

Jeffress then doubled down on his take during an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday, Aug. 10. While participating during Fox & Friends' "Focus on Faith" segment, the 61-year-old pastor said,

The Bible gives President Trump the moral authority to use whatever force necessary, including assassination or even war, to take out an evil-doer like Kim Jong Un. I think most Christians understand that.

Jeffress comments drew criticism from media members, including MSNBC host Joe Scarborough, who wrote via Twitter,

Do not hide behind Jesus to justify [the president] launching a war.

Conservative writer and author Tom Nichols wrote,

This is now officially the creepiest thing I've seen in years, and offends me not only as an American but more deeply as a Christian.

Here's the moment Jeffress made his case on Fox News:

Needless to say, the reaction on Twitter was not kind.

Jeffress first spoke on the subject after President Trump responded to news of North Korea threatening to attack the United States. The president said North Korea would be met with "fire and fury," which prompted Jeffress to say in a statement, per the Washington Post, 

When it comes to how we should deal with evildoers, the Bible, in the book of Romans, is very clear: God has endowed rulers full power to use whatever means necessary — including war — to stop evil. In the case of North Korea, God has given Trump authority to take out Kim Jong Un.

Clearly, his view on the subject isn't the most popular around.