It’s no secret the Rev. Franklin Graham has been a longtime supporter of President Donald Trump, so when Walmart starting selling “Impeach 45” T-shirts on its online store, the well-known evangelist quickly responded with a clothing sale of his own.
.@Walmart was in the news today for selling a t-shirt online that promotes “IMPEACH 45.” That brought about a boycott against them, & rightfully so. I’m glad they’ve removed the shirts from their online store pending review—a good move on their part. 1/2https://t.co/0Bj56U8Q9l
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) July 3, 2018
How about promoting something that can really make a difference—PRAYER! Rather than criticizing and tearing down the president, we need to pray for him and our other leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2). 2/2
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) July 3, 2018
Walmart ultimately pulled the T-shirts from its website, according to Fox News, after facing intense backlash, including a trending Twitter threat — #BoycottWalmart — in response to the anti-Trump item.
“These items were sold by third-party sellers on our open marketplace, and were not offered directly by Walmart,” a brand representative explained. “We’re removing these types of items pending review of our marketplace policies.”
But after seeing the response Walmart received from a shirt emblazoned with a frequent talking point touted by the most progressive members of Congress, Graham decided to use the opportunity as a call to prayer. He praised Walmart for pulling the “Impeach 45” T-shirts, then unveiled one of his own:
The bottom of the T-shirt features a reference to 1 Timothy 2:1-2, which reads, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
The description for the shirt says the clothing should serve as “a reminder that God instructs us to pray for those in leadership,” adding, “Wear it to remind yourself and others of the power of prayer, and ask God to give our president wisdom as he leads.”
“We came up with a t-shirt to promote something that can really make a difference — PRAYER!” Graham wrote in a Facebook post about the T-shirt, which costs $15.99.
Graham, the eldest son of the late Rev. Billy Graham, made headlines in early May, when he said in an interview with the Associated Press that Trump’s alleged tryst with porn star Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is “nobody’s business.”
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The popular evangelist’s comments about Trump quickly piqued the interest of his detractors, who pointed out that, in 1998, he didn’t feel the same way about former President Bill Clinton’s sexual impropriety. At the time, he penned a column for the Wall Street Journal titled, “Clinton’s Sins Aren’t Private.”
“If he will lie to or mislead his wife and daughter, those with whom he is most intimate, what will prevent him from doing the same to the American public?” Graham wrote of Clinton.
Trump, for his part, continues to deny any allegations he’s had a sexual relationship with Daniels.