Controversial ‘Trump preacher’ draws 10,000 believers to ING Arena in Brussels
The so-called “Festival of Hope” will take place on Saturday evening at the ING Arena in Brussels. Controversial right-wing evangelist and Trump supporter Franklin Graham will preach to around 10,000 Belgian believers from more than 600 church communities in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels.
The “Festival of Hope” is a free Christian event featuring music by Christian artists, organised by 619 Belgian church communities and supported by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGAE). According to the festival organisers, around 9,600 people have registered for the festival and the ING Arena has provided 4,000 extra seats.
The most notable name is the controversial right-wing evangelical preacher and pastor Franklin Graham (73), who is known for his controversial statements about Islam and has twice led the prayer at the inauguration of current US president Donald Trump.
“President Trump is the most powerful president in my entire life,” Graham said of Trump. “He's not just a politician, he just says what he thinks.” The pastor sees Trump as a president who “defends Christianity”.
Historic and controversial
Franklin Graham's visit is both historic and controversial. Historic, because such large religious festivals or events rarely take place in Belgium, and Graham enjoys serious support among evangelical believers. Controversial, because of Graham's position on politics, Islam and the LGBTQIA+ community.
According to Graham, Islam is “a very evil religion of hate and violence”, former American president Barack Obama pursued a gay and lesbian agenda during his term in office, and Russian president Vladimir Putin protects Christians from “gay propaganda”.
Right-wing evangelist Franklin Graham and US president Donald Trump © PHOTO SAUL LOEB/POOL/CNP/ABACAPRESS.COM
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