House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) took to X to elaborate on his support for border security and immigration enforcement, providing a biblical defense for the Trump administration’s policies. While his initial comments were drafted during the Biden administration, he “promised to post a longer explanation” of his views.
“Despite the insistence of the progressive Left, people of all religious faiths should support a strong national border—and Christians CERTAINLY should,” Johnson wrote. “Critics are fond of citing particular Bible verses out of context to claim that Christians and Jews are being ‘unfaithful’ if we oppose their radical open borders agenda. It has become increasingly important for us to set this record straight.”
He noted that those opposing biblical borders often cite Leviticus 19:34, which states, “But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” (KJV).
Johnson explained that a “central premise of Judeo-Christian teaching” is that “strangers should be treated with kindness and hospitality.” That being said, the principle and commandment to love God and love others “was never directed to the government, but to INDIVIDUAL believers,” he wrote.
“To be properly understood, anytime a command is given in Scripture, one must first determine to WHOM that command is directed,” Johnson added, emphasizing that “when government officials ignore crime, they are directly VIOLATING their responsibilities before God.”
“Maintaining a secure border is not an offensive measure, but a wise, defensive one to prevent chaos and safeguard innocent life,” he wrote.
