Donald Trump has taken an increasingly hostile stance towards Ukraine in recent days, but his spiritual advisor Pastor Mark Burns may be able to change his mind
Donald Trump has adopted a more confrontational stance towards Ukraine since his inauguration. He’s halted military aid, labelled the nation’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, as a dictator, pressured Ukraine to surrender its mineral wealth, and in the view of some, cast it as the aggressor rather than the victim in Europe’s first conflict in eight decades.
Yet, Ukraine might just have a trump card that could sway the 47th President away from Vladimir Putin. This potential game-changer, according to some analysts, might be none other than Trump’s own spiritual confidant – Pastor Mark Burns.
Pastor Burns, a televangelist, has been a staunch supporter of Trump since before his initial term and has remained a key ally for nearly a decade. As Trump’s spiritual guide, Pastor Burns wields considerable influence within the president’s close-knit group, making his perspectives particularly significant.
This is why Ukrainians might hold a glimmer of hope regarding their plight, especially after Pastor Burns, having witnessed the devastation in places like Bucha and Irpin, advocated for the US to escalate its support and supply tanks and F-35s to help Ukraine fend off Russian aggression.
In his remarks, he stated: “These soldiers on the front lines are not asking for money. They are asking for 1,000 tanks, 300 F-35s, anti-air weapons to shoot down the drones that still fire at civilian buildings, and killing people.”
A passionate appeal from one of Trump’s most trusted advisors could potentially sway the situation in Ukraine’s favour once the pastor returns to the White House, reports the Irish Star.
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Professor John Strawson from the University of East London weighed in on the significance of the pastor’s visit and its potential to shift Trump’s peace-at-any-cost stance.
Speaking to the Irish Star, he said: “Rev Mark Burns is in a unique position offering advice to President Donald Trump.
“His visit to Ukraine to the areas near Kyiv including Bucha which were occupied by Russia at the beginning of the war will have been challenging given the appalling war crimes that were committed including murder, rape and torture.”
He noted that Burns’ social media comments clearly show how deeply affected he has been by the civilian suffering.
The expert added: “Significantly, he has referred to the continuing Russian attacks on civilian targets and has highlighted the need for more weapons – including fighter jets – on the front line to deter such attacks.”
Strawson suggested that Burns’ comments might influence a change in Trump’s attitude towards the war, especially considering Putin has already angered Trump by initially agreeing to a limited ceasefire in the Black Sea and then imposing conditions.
However, while the visit may be seen as a positive development, Professor Strawson cautioned that, as with all things related to Trump, the world would have to adopt a wait-and-see approach.
He clarified: “What that might mean in practice we will have to wait to see. However, The Ukrainians must feeling that the US position might be evolving to their advantage.”