Sara Haines calls out Trump admin over 'dangerous' use of religion in politics

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The View's co-host Sara Haines has accused the Trump administration of acting as "false prophets" who are "manipulating and guiding" the public through a "bastardisation" of faith. 

Haines expressed concern that the "Jesus and Bible references" politicians are using is veering into a "dangerous lane" that threatens the fundamental separation of church and state.

Sara Haines blasts JD Vance over Pope remarks

During the recent episode on ‘The View,’ Sara Haines responded to JD Vance’s suggestion that the Pope should be careful when discussing theology. 

Haines turned the warning back on him, suggesting that politicians should not overstep into religious matters. 

"Did JD Vance just say the pope needed to be careful when he spoke about theology? Okay, You know, I feel like JD might want to be careful when speaking about the Pope," she remarked. 

"One of the most egregious things as a person of faith is watching when religion is weaponized, in a way that feels like cherry picked, and a bit of a bastardisation of the very things so many of us try to live by, and it informs our decisions," she stated.

Haines's comments come after Vance cautioned Pope Leo XIV to be “careful” when speaking about theology.

This was a response to the Pope’s recent criticism of US military actions and foreign policy. Speaking at an event in Georgia on April 14, Vance argued that religious leaders must be precise when discussing war.

“I think it’s very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology,” Vance said. “If you’re going to opine on matters of theology, you’ve got to be careful. You’ve got to make sure it’s anchored in the truth.”

Vance disagreed with the Pope’s idea that Jesus is never on the side of those who use force. He pointed to historical events like World War II to show that the situation is more complicated.

“Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated France from the Nazis? Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated Holocaust camps…? I certainly think the answer is yes,” he said. Vance added that while he respects the Pope's voice on social issues he does not always agree with his stance on war.

Haines rejects political use of religious guidance

Haines also criticized what she sees as a lack of true religious practice in leadership. 

She argued that speaking about faith is not as important as living by its values. 

"I also think there's so much hypocrisy when you speak of religion loudly, but you don't walk the walk, which was the more important message of Jesus and the gospel and the Bible," Haines said. 

"I would prefer to keep these two separate, especially from a group of people that are manipulating and guiding as false prophets. It's just disturbing to me to watch it happen," she added.

Haines labels political bible references highly dangerous

The co-host emphasized that merging religion with government can be risky for a country as diverse as the US. 

She noted that she is a person of faith herself but believes in keeping the two spheres distinct.

"But I also don't like when religion and politics merges. I like the separation of church and state for this reason. I happen to be a believer of the faith they're speaking of. But this nation is so diverse and multifaceted that there's danger whenever you do this, I don't want to live in a theocracy. We've seen how that plays out in other places in the globe," she explained.

Haines concluded by pointing out that these religious references have been a part of the Trump campaign strategy for a long time. 

"Now, remember, though, Tim Alberta sat at this table, the man who wrote the kingdom, the power, and the glory, American evangelicals in the age of extremism. And he spoke to a campaign video about, sorry, President Trump when he was campaigning, and it said, Jesus sent him. The whole thing is about this. So these Jesus and Bible references have been going on since he was on the campaign trail. And it's a dangerous lane to veer into for him."