バイデン氏がキリスト教「冒涜」と非難 トランプ氏

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】米国のドナルド・トランプ前大統領（７７）と一部共和党議員は３月３０日、ジョー・バイデン大統領が３１日の「トランスジェンダー可視化の日」に言及したのを受け、キリスト教に対する冒涜（ぼうとく）だと非難した。今年のイースター（復活祭）は３１日で、「可視化の日」と重なっている。（写真は２０１７年４月１７日にホワイトハウスで開催された復活祭の恒例イベント「イースターエッグロール」で、スピーチをするドナルド・トランプ大統領〈肩書は当時〉）
　トランプ氏らは、バイデン氏が２９日に３月３１日を「可視化の日」と正式に宣言したのを受け、一斉に批判。インクルーシブ（包摂的）な米国を目指すとするバイデン氏と、１１月の大統領選に向けキリスト教保守層からの支持を取り付けたいトランプ氏との新たな争点に浮上した。
　トランプ氏陣営の広報担当者は、バイデン氏の宣言について「冒涜的」であり、長年にわたるキリスト教信仰への攻撃の一環だと指摘。「われわれはバイデン氏陣営とホワイトハウスに対し、カトリック教徒とキリスト教徒数百万人への謝罪を求める」と述べた。
　これに対しホワイトハウスは、バイデン氏は敬虔（けいけん）なカトリック教徒であり、「人々（の心）を一つにし、米国人の尊厳と自由を守ろうとしている」と反論。「嫌悪と不誠実なレトリックで国を分断し、弱体化させようとしている政治家の姿を見るのは悲しいことだが、驚きはない」と語った。
　さらに、「バイデン大統領が自らの信仰を政治目的に利用することは決してない」とも指摘。これは、イースター直前にオリジナル版聖書の販売に乗り出したトランプ氏への当てこすりとみられる。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/04/01-18:31）

Donald Trump and fellow Republicans assailed President Joe Biden on Saturday for what they called an assault on Christianity, after the US leader highlighted the Transgender Day of Visibility that this year coincides with Easter.
It was the latest skirmish in the culture war shaping the White House race, as Trump seeks support from religious conservatives while Biden stakes his claim as the standard-bearer for an inclusive America.
Biden on Friday issued a proclamation recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility, falling every year on March 31, which this time is also Easter Sunday.
In a statement slamming Biden's blasphemous declaration, Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the move was part of the Biden Administration's years-long assault on the Christian faith.
We call on Joe Biden's failing campaign and White House to issue an apology to the millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe tomorrow is for one celebration only -- the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Republican House speaker Mike Johnson said on X it was outrageous and abhorrent to proclaim Easter Sunday as 'Transgender Day.'
The American people are taking note, he added.
The White House snapped back with a statement pointing out that Biden, a devout Catholic, stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American.
Sadly, it's unsurprising politicians are seeking to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful and dishonest rhetoric, spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement.
President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or for profit, he added, an apparent dig at Trump who this week urged his supporters to buy the $59.99 God Bless the USA Bible.
Trump and Republicans are seizing on conservatives' discomfort over transgender rights, as some states restrict gender-affirming care for minors and prohibit people from using bathrooms not in alignment with their sex at birth.
We will ban men from participating in women's sports, Trump has declared at campaign rallies, as he highlights policy priorities for a second White House term.
The Easter kerfuffle came after Trump drew criticism for a video on his Truth Social platform that featured an image of Biden hog-tied, as if he were being kidnapped.
The video, posted Friday, shows two pickup trucks driving down a highway, each displaying pro-Trump signs and flags. On the tailgate of the second truck is an image of a prone Biden tied with his hands behind him.
This image from Donald Trump is the type of crap you post when you're calling for a bloodbath or when you tell the Proud Boys to 'stand back and stand by,' Biden spokesman Michael Tyler told AFP, referring to the far-right militia involved in the January 6, 2021 assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters.
He went on: Trump is regularly inciting political violence and it's time people take him seriously -- just ask the Capitol police officers who were attacked protecting our democracy on January 6.
The Trump campaign was unapologetic.
Democrats and crazed lunatics have not only called for despicable violence against President Trump and his family, they are actually weaponizing the justice system against him, spokesman Steven Cheung said.
Trump has a long history of using dark and combative language and posting provocative images.
Trump in December accused migrants of poisoning the blood of Americans.
In November, he lashed into his political rivals, vowing to root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country.
That drew a response from Biden, who said Trump was using language you heard in Nazi Germany.