A Tennessee pastor made waves this week for openly calling for violence against President Donald Trump, DOGE head Elon Musk, and just about anyone who helps carry out the new administration’s plans for government reform.
“No one likes violence, but sometimes violence is necessary,” preached Dr. Steve Caudle, who serves as the lead pastor at Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church in Chattanooga, which presumably enjoys tax-exempt status as a supposedly apolitical charity.
Not that anyone's held black churches to those legal standards for...well, ever.
“Elon Musk forces his way into the United States treasury and threatens to steal your personal information, and your Social Security check, there is the possibility of violence. Sometimes the Devil will act so ugly, that you have no other choice but to get violent and fight,” Caudle went on.
Oh, but he wasn’t done there. After openly encouraging his listeners to “get violent and fight” people over changing federal policies and government handouts, Caudle then credited Jesus Christ himself for encouraging political violence.
Tennessee pastor calls for violence against Elon Musk
— Clown World ™ 🤡 (@ClownWorld_) February 11, 2025
Close this church and take away their 501(c)(3) status. pic.twitter.com/qGpbeNHHAQ
“Well someone will say, ‘Reverend, you know you shouldn’t be talking about violence, this isn’t the Christian thing to do. Well I say, why not talk this way? Because Jesus did," he went on.
Related: 'Bring Your Ass Over Here!' Unhinged Auntie Maxine Threatens Elon Musk in Bizarre Tirade
Did he though? Did he really? Chapter and verse, if you please. Because I seem to recall Jesus actively discouraging his disciples from engaging in violence, even as he himself was being hauled off to the cross.
After going viral on social media for his violence-inspiring tirade, Caudle now claims his sermon was being “taken out of context,” saying he was talking about “spiritual warfare” and not actual, physical violence - despite the fact that his actual comments literally said otherwise. In the meantime, Chattanooga Mayor Weston Wamp has called for Caudle’s resignation from his seat on the Regional Planning Commission, which Caudle says he has no intention of abdicating.
Now imagine, if you will, a white pastor standing at a pulpit, demanding Republicans “get violent and fight” their political opponents over government policies.
I don’t think you have to get too mentally creative to know how that would’ve gone down.