Pay-To-Pray: The Latest Trump Grift

Every evening before dinner, I watch an hour of television news: a half-hour of local and a half-hour of American national reportage. When I sit down for supper to give a news overview to my wife, I am often struck with a sense surrealism. Surely what I have to report can't really be happening; perhaps I am lying in a hospital somewhere in a deep coma-induced fever dream, which would explain a lot about what I am seeing during the news hour.

Examples abound, one being the ongoing genocide in Gaza, where hospitals continue to be bombarded by the IDF as they ferret out Hamas 'sympathizers' and 'operatives', with absolutely no proof being offered. The systematic elimination of Gaza's healthcare structure ensures only more death and destruction of Palestinians, clearly Israel's objective.

But I digress. Today's excursion into absurdity involves a story I have not seen on TV news, perhaps because the legacy media do not want to provoke Don Trump, given that they are the enemy of the people. No, this is the kind of story one has to search for in order to find out Trump's latest grift: Pay To Pray.

President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is reportedly planning an interfaith prayer service the day before his inauguration, where participants can worship alongside the businessman and his wife, Melania.

But those who want to join need to weigh the price of prayer: Tickets to the service will be awarded only to those who donate at least $100,000 to Trump’s inaugural ceremonies, or who raise $200,000.

Earlier this month, Axios cited a seven-page prospectus that listed the service alongside several other donor-only events, such as a “cabinet reception” with Trump’s nominees and “candlelight dinner” with Trump and Melania.

According to the report, if a donor gives $1 million or raises $2 million, they’ll earn six tickets to the suite of inauguration events.

Indeed, the entire Inaugural Weekend appears chock full of grifting money-making opportunities for team Trump:

I could go on, but my capacity for absurdity today is limited. Moreover, such tawdry and self-serving enterprises stand in sharp contrast to the values and life lived by Jimmy Carter, whose legacy is being promulgated widely upon his passing. 

The authenticity of a man like Carter, his lifelong efforts to live a life of meaning and service, especially in his post-presidential life, were his way of emulating the life of Jesus and the message of the Gospels. Service to others, helping to fight for the betterment of all, exemplify his life. I imagine there are many who cannot understand a man like him- far better to be like the tech bros and other billionaires, the only real question being who will have the biggest pile of toys when they die. Beyond that their vision cannot go.

Jesus famously chased the moneylenders from the temple. Today, obviously, they all would be welcomed with open arms.