Steve Strang: Why I Warned of ‘Police State’ Mentality in America Early in COVID-19 Crisis
A federal judge recently declared Pennsylvania’s coronavirus lockdown orders “unconstitutional”—saying they overreached and were arbitrary. Democrat Gov. Tom Wolf had put those strict edicts in place. “You can’t tell 13 million Pennsylvanians that they have to stay home. That’s not America. It never was. That order was horrible,” an attorney for the plaintiffs, Thomas W. King III, told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. I took time to explain and provide commentary on this situation on a recent episode of my God, Trump and the 2020 Election podcast.
You may recall that I was among the first to warn of dangerous government overreach in these precarious times, and I applaud this new ruling. In my most recent book, God, Trump and COVID-19, I write that in early 2020, “Few of us expected that battling the outbreak would create governmental powers in which America would begin to look like a police state.”
And yet “as new restrictions on gatherings were lowered to 50 and then again to fewer than 10 people, it quickly became apparent that this pandemic would be a game changer,” I wrote. “Going to sporting events, movies, theatrical events, concerts and church meetings was suddenly forbidden.”
In this book, I point out the double standard that became increasingly obvious during this time. “As the country went into lockdown mode, America’s pro-life leaders voiced alarm that churches were being forced to close down, while in most states abortion clinics were allowed to stay open.” I also asked some key questions: “Why were churches so quickly deemed ‘nonessential’? And why was the public so quick to accept this?”
The United States—under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump—has been steadily climbing out of the clutches of this pandemic. Very early on, Trump closed the U.S. border and issued travel bans to protect our country. He approved numerous aid packages, created a White House task force and marshaled untold federal resources toward defeating this virus. Throughout it all, the president has kept the nation clearly informed.
Above all, he’s always promoted the freedoms of Americans, shared his steadfast belief in our constitutional rights—and stood up for people of faith. In fact, he has what has proven to be an unshakeable belief in America.
Trump always “displays true leadership, authority, strength and experience,” I write in God, Trump and COVID-19. Since I have interviewed four presidents, including this one, I believe I am qualified to speak. As I also write, “Donald Trump believes America remains a great country even though we’ve drifted away from the clear vision of the Founders. He possesses an undeniable faith in America, and a big reason for that is his own lifelong faith in God.”
In my book, I also take time to expound upon the critical nature of this election. “This election is so important for Christians and for people of all faiths. [Trump] is a champion for our belief in God and for returning us to the foundation of our freedoms in this country.”
As most Americans know, a multi-agency effort has been underway within the federal government to create a COVID-19 vaccine. Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense released two documents outlining the Trump administration’s specific strategy to deliver safe and effective vaccine doses to Americans “as quickly and reliably as possible.”
This bears out something else I wrote in God, Trump and COVID-19: “Donald Trump is a leader, and at this point in American history we need a real leader who can get private enterprise and government—even the Democrats—to work together to take us through this crisis and find a vaccine for the deadly coronavirus.”
God, Trump and COVID-19 is my fourth book about Trump, and I consider it a follow-up or “Part B” to my bestselling January 2020 release, God, Trump and the 2020 Election. My new book shares insider information about China and the virus—and conveys the high stakes of the 2020 presidential election. It also addresses a key question for Christians: “Where is God in all this?”
For more on the unconstitutional shutdown orders in Pennsylvania, the government’s restrictive overreach and how citizens must stand up for truth, listen to the entire podcast at this link. {eoa}
God, Trump and COVID-19 is published by FrontLine, an imprint of Charisma House, which publishes books that challenge, encourage, teach and equip Christians. The book is available in hardcover, paperback and e-book formats at stevestrangbooks.com.
Stephen E. Strang is an award-winning journalist who founded Charisma magazine, the only national evangelical magazine to endorse President Donald Trump. He is also the bestselling author of God and Donald Trump. Voted by Time magazine as one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America, Strang has interviewed four U.S. presidents—including President Trump—and has been featured on many media outlets, including Fox News, CNN, MSNBC and CBN.
