Fact Check: Did Pam Bondi say, 'Jesus Christ would never have stormed a church'?
WASHINGTON, DC: A claim has been circulating online that Attorney General Pam Bondi made a remark invoking Jesus Christ while criticising protests against Church leadership. The statement has drawn widespread attention and debate online, sparking speculations about what she actually said. Let us examine the claim and fact-check it.
Claim: Pam Bondi said Jesus Christ would not storm a church
A rumor was spread this month by a social media user, alleging that Bondi said, "Jesus Christ would never have stormed a church in protest of the people who were running it."
Users reshared the remarks, either as what appeared to be a Fox News chyron or as plain text posts.
The alleged remark follows a group of protesters disrupting a Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
News outlets later reported that the activists were protesting a local Immigration and Customs Enforcement official who also serves as a pastor at the church.
On January 20, a Facebook user posted an alleged Fox News TV screenshot displaying a chyron reading, "Bondi: 'Jesus Christ would never have stormed a church in protest of the people who were running it.'"
Fact Check: The rumor originated as satire
In short, Bondi never said those words. Both the Fox News screenshot and quote were fake. The rumor originated as satire.
The quote was created by James Schlarmann, a comedian whose Facebook bio describes him as a political satirist, who posted it on January 20.
Also, no credible news media outlets have reported that Bondi made such a statement.
Pam Bondi's statement following the church protest
I just spoke to the Pastor in Minnesota whose church was targeted. Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law.
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) January 19, 2026
If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this Department of Justice…
On January 18, the day protesters disrupted the St. Paul church service, Bondi posted on X, in part, "I just spoke to the Pastor in Minnesota whose church was targeted.
Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law."
Two days later, as part of an interview with Bondi, Fox News reported that she said of the church incident, "That should not happen to any Christian, to any religion, to a synagogue, to a mosque, to any place of worship in our country."
On January 22, Bondi announced the arrest of one of the protesters and added, "Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP."
She also later announced two additional arrests in connection with the incident.
