Franklin Graham, the prominent evangelical leader and president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has once again made headlines for his pointed advice to President Donald Trump.
In recent days, Graham has publicly encouraged Trump to tone down his use of profanity, citing both spiritual and cultural concerns.
At the heart of his counsel is a reference to Matthew 12:36, a Bible verse that warns, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.”
Graham’s latest remarks were highlighted in an interview with Deseret News, where he elaborated on his ongoing efforts to influence Trump’s rhetoric.
According to a report by The Christian Post on March 13, 2025, Graham expressed optimism that his advice is beginning to resonate with the president. “The president, his pulpit — his microphone — is huge, and it carries a lot of weight,” Graham said.
“So I’m going to continue to try to encourage him.” He emphasized that Trump’s platform offers a unique opportunity to set a positive example in a culture he believes has been coarsened by casual profanity.
The evangelical leader’s comments stem from a letter he previously wrote to Trump, which the president has acknowledged publicly on multiple occasions.
In a post on X dated March 12, 2025, Graham referenced this correspondence, tying it directly to the Matthew 12:36 warning. Trump, for his part, has responded with a mix of defiance and concession.
The Christian Post noted that during a recent rally, Trump told supporters he disagreed with Graham’s stance but admitted he’s been “working so hard” to avoid swearing in his speeches.
This isn’t the first time Graham has weighed in on Trump’s language. As reported by Deseret News, Graham’s suggestion is rooted in a broader concern about the spiritual implications of careless words, a theme he connects to biblical teachings.
He argues that leaders, especially those with Trump’s influence, bear a responsibility to model behavior that aligns with Christian values. “It’s not just about politics,” Graham told Deseret News. “It’s about the soul of the nation.”
Reactions to Graham’s stance have been mixed. Some applaud his efforts to hold Trump accountable to a higher standard, while others see it as a misplaced priority given the broader controversies surrounding the former president.
Posts on X reflect this divide, with some users questioning why Graham focuses on profanity rather than other moral issues, while others dismiss his advice outright with colorful language of their own.
Despite the varied responses, Graham remains steadfast. His invocation of Matthew 12:36 underscores a belief that words carry eternal weight—a message he hopes will not only reach Trump but also reverberate through a society he views as increasingly unmoored from biblical principles.
Whether Trump fully heeds this advice remains to be seen, but Graham’s persistence highlights the intersection of faith, leadership, and public discourse in today’s polarized climate.
