Saturday, 18 January 2025

TRUMP believes in MONEY nothing else

TRUMP only believes in MONEY nothing else

Nearly six thousand people have signed a petition started by Christian organization Faithful America denouncing President-elect Donald Trump‘s reported “pay-to-pray” plan to take place ahead of inauguration.

Newsweek has reached out to Faithful America and the Trump-Vance Inaugural committee for comment and confirmation via email on Friday evening.If you're a senior over 60, you could get a new boiler for almost free.

NationIf you’re a senior over 60, you could get a new boiler for almost free.

Ad

Why It Matters

Trump has garnered significant support among evangelical and conservative Christians, with the Associated Press reporting that about 8 in 10 white evangelicals supported him in 2020 and in 2024.

However, there are many progressive Christians who have pushed back on Trump’s policies and rhetoric.A 15-foot-tall golden calf resembling Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump unveiled by Faithful America is inflated before a Trump rally on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Milwaukee. Mike Roemer/AP Content Services for Faithful America

A 15-foot-tall golden calf resembling Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump unveiled by Faithful America is inflated before a Trump rally on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Milwaukee. Mike Roemer/AP Content Services for Faithful America© Mike Roemer/AP Content Services for Faithful America

What To Know

In its January 16 petition, Faithful America, a group of Christians advocating for social justice who have vocally spoken out against Trump called the reported prayer plan “a stunning example of the far right’s corruption of the Christian faith. And we refuse to be silent about it.”Don't Install Expensive Solar Panels (Do This Instead)

Eco ExpertsDon’t Install Expensive Solar Panels (Do This Instead)

Ad

In December, Axios reported that a donation package for people who gave or raised between $100,000 and $2 million provides access to a “One America, One Light Sunday Service,” with Trump and Melania Trump. Several reports have labeled this a “pay-to-pray” initiative. Last month, the Hill reported it would be “an interfaith service featuring U.S. military bands.”

There is no public information regarding the service on the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee’s website.

The petition, which had 5,984 signatures toward its goal of 10,000 as of Friday evening, reads: “We can’t stop Trump from turning worship into a commodity to line his own pockets. And we know his false prophets like Franklin Graham and Lance Wallnau won’t say a word about Trump’s unholy grift (spoiler alert: because they’re complicit in it). But we CAN speak out against this gross degradation of our faith — and make sure our fellow Christians hear.”Tired of Painful Knees? This Device Could Change Everything in 15 Minutes.

healthinisghts.comTired of Painful Knees? This Device Could Change Everything in 15 Minutes.

Ad

A separate religious service that is not affiliated with the reported “pay-to-pray” plan will take place on Monday at St. John’s Church, as noted on the Trump-Vance Inaugural website and confirmed by the Church to Newsweek.

In keeping with presidential tradition, St. John’s Church, located across from the White House will host the service. St. John’s Reverend Rob Fisher confirmed to Newsweek in a phone call Friday evening that the church’s service aligns with its long tradition of hosting services ahead of presidential inaugurations dating back to 1933.

Fisher wrote in an email to his congregation on Monday that the service provides the incoming president, “a time of calm and quiet reflection before God, ahead of the large and very public events that will occupy the rest of the inauguration day.”

What People Are Saying

Faithful America wrote in a statement to the media posted on their website: “As Christians, we reject the abhorrent pay-to-pray scheme that Donald Trump is reportedly planning during his inauguration celebration—charging prominent political donors $100,000 to $200,000 a ticket to worship with him.

Jesus clearly condemned the unholy merging of commerce and worship when he flipped over tables at the Temple and drove out the money lenders. This isn’t a worship service intended to glorify God—it’s a service to glorify Trump and the power he represents to his wealthiest allies.

We denounce this disgusting act of idolatry and the false prophets and religious-right leaders who are supporting or enabling it.”

Karli Wallace Thompson, digital campaigns director of Faithful America, told Newsweek in an email on Friday evening: “President-elect Trump’s pay-to-pray scheme is an outrageous mockery of Christian faith and values. Jesus drove the money changers from the Temple, condemning the blending of commerce and worship, and yet Trump is reportedly charging up to $200,000 for political donors to pray with him. This is not worship; it’s idolatry. Christians must stand united in rejecting this gross exploitation of our faith for personal and political gain.”

President-elect Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday: “I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda, as was used by Ronald Reagan in 1985, also because of very cold weather.”

What Happens Next

Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th president on Monday in Washington, D.C. Freezing temperatures expected in the capital have altered the inaugural weekend schedule and location.

Update 1/17/2025: This article has been updated for clarity.

holding a bible upside down, after a riot, then hawking his own bible plus other stuff for 99 dolars

Trump is was and always will be a CHEAP trick

If you want to pray you give money to Charity not to Trump anything

I bet he cannot even recite the Our Father

I’m with Jesus, flip the tables

5115 I shaved finally , can walk a bit better too, but maybe not up and down our hill

5115 I shaved finally , can walk a bit better too, but maybe not up and down our hill

still impossible to sleep and my weight has broken the mattress

so maybe need change it

i buy cheap ones now because they do not last

due to my weight and sleeping position

right  side only

as left is my arthritic shoulder

front is my hernia through bypass scar

back my bad back

so I'm the elephant man

sleeping in one position

when Tinnitus allows it

yes if I had soft pillows to lie on, a metaphor

then I'd be far happier

and maybe I'd sleep before the sons arrived

sons , not sun....





what a difference a Brazilian makes.......

just like a scene from James Bond, a close shave



Thursday, 16 January 2025

RED NOTE from China

RED NOTE from China

Tech

‘We are witnessing a moment’: RedNote users in China welcome TikTok refugees

Connection between Chinese and American netizens ‘genuinely beautiful’, writes one new RedNote user

Anthony Cuthbertson

Thursday 16 January 2025 07:04 GMT

Comments

Independent Premium

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log in

TikTok users in the US have moved to other Chinese-owned apps like Rednote and Lemon8 ahead of a ban on 19 January, 2025
TikTok users in the US have moved to other Chinese-owned apps like Rednote and Lemon8 ahead of a ban on 19 January, 2025 (iStock/ Getty Images)
IndyTech

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox

SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

TikTok users in the US have reported receiving a warm welcome on other Chinese-owned apps amid a looming ban of the hugely popular social media platform.

China-based Lemon8 and RedNote have both experienced a surge in downloads from US users as the 19 January deadline for the TikTok ban approaches, each topping the app charts.

TikTok, which is owned by ByteDance, will be removed from Apple and Android app stores on Sunday if the Chinese firm fails to either sell the app to an approved buyer or convince the US Supreme Court to delay the ban.

Advertisement

Advertisement : 15 sec

The Supreme Court has signaled that it does not plan to prevent the TikTok ban from coming into force, while ByteDance has given no indication that it intends to sell the app.

In anticipation of the ban coming into force, TikTok users have been seeking out alternative social media apps.

RECOMMENDED

US officials reached out to Putin over fears of possible attack, report says

Here is why California can’t use ocean water to help fight the wildfires

Varicose Veins Disappear As if They Never Happened! Use It Before Bed!medilisk|

Sponsored

Dating for Senior SinglesMeetheage|

Sponsored

Powered by Taboola

“My roommate downloaded RedNote (the Chinese version of Pinterest/Insta) like six hours ago and he’s already saying ‘Big ups to Mao Zedong’,” wrote X user James Ray in a post on Tuesday. “We are witnessing a moment.”

Chinese users have joked to the new US users about being spies, while others have shared pictures of their children and pets.

“This is a pretty strange moment,” wrote one X user in a post on Tuesday.

“It’s the first time in a very long time that Chinese and American netizens are freely interacting without an intermediary or VPN. I doubt it will last long before XHS (RedNote) splits them apart. But I hope they don’t. It’s genuinely beautiful.”

Some users have referred to it as “2025’s Berlin Wall”, with the newly-popular apps breaking through the cyber barrier of China’s Great Firewall.

Despite being owned by a Chinese company, TikTok is not actually available in China. Instead, ByteDance operates a similar app called Douyin in its home country, which is not available internationally.

Other social media apps that are popular in the US, such as Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), are also blocked in China as part of the country’s strict censorship laws, meaning web users in either country rarely interact.

RECOMMENDED

Black cop is accused of trafficking his white wife while flying to their honeymoon

Why Ben Affleck got a visit from FBI agents at LA home amid wildfires

People Born 1940-1975 With No Life Insurance Could Be Eligible For ThisReassured|

Sponsored

The best winter shoes suitable for elderly people to wear all day.Reliefoot|

Sponsored

Powered by Taboola

TikTok’s upcoming ban is centred on national security concerns, with lawmakers claiming that its Chinese ties could result in spying or political manipulation of people’s feeds, but such concerns have not deterred US users from seeking out other Chinese-owned alternatives.

TikTok has consistently denied the allegations, claiming that the US ban is unconstitutional and goes against Americans’ First Amendment rights.

More about

TikTok

I have a Chinese Irish family myself

2001 me and my 1st daughter

TAKEOUT READY so Hong Kong do you want it?

TAKEOUT READY so Hong Kong do you want it? It's 10gig all the photos too I think 5700 pieces nearly So if anybody wants my stuff I can g...