Donald Trump’s Spiritual Advisor Faces Christian Backlash

Several Christians, including some pastors, have spoken out against Donald Trump’s spiritual advisor Paula White-Cain, calling her a “false teacher.”

The Context

White-Cain was appointed as Trump’s special advisor to the Faith and Opportunity Initiative, which was part of the Office of Public Liaison in 2019, after she delivered the innovation at Trump’s first inauguration on January 20, 2017—as the first female clergy member to do so.

This year, the Florida pastor, who was born in Mississippi and grew up in Maryland, was tapped to head the Faith Office, which Trump established with an executive order directing the Department of Justice to prosecute “anti-Christian bias.”

White-Cain is a proponent of prosperity theology, which is centered around financial and physical well-being being achieved through the will of God. Charismatic Christians believe that by giving to charity, their own material wealth will rise as well.

What To Know

Multiple Christians have criticized White-Cain in the past, but she has recently faced backlash for her online Passover Season sermon on March 23, in which she asks people to give to Paula White Ministries.

The video includes calls to “honor God with your Passover/Easter Resurrection Offering” of different amounts which gets people a “Holy Land Communion Set ” with two olive wood cups, grape juice and unleavened bread from Israel and an instruction booklet “on how to celebrate the Lord’s supper” all in an “attractive, commemorative boxset.” People would also get White-Cain’s Passover devotional book, her DVD series and a “special disc on communion.”

But, “for your special Passover offering of $1,000 or more as the Holy Spirit leads, you will also receive the “beautiful 10-inch Waterford crystal cross.”

“Don’t miss your moment to release seven supernatural blessings and provision into your life,” the video says.

Arizona-based Gabriel Hughes, pastor of Providence Reformed Baptist Church in Casa Grande, reposted a clip from this sermon and wrote on X: “Dear Donald Trump, please remove Paula White. She’s a false teacher. Appoint a godly man who preaches Christ and Him crucified for our sins (Voddie Baucham?).

“Brethren, have nothing to do with this woman. In seeking a seat at the table, she doesn’t help you—you help her.”

Similarly, pastor Jason Gudim, who is based in Minneapolis and presents the podcast Being Lutheran Podcast, said: “If you give Paula White a grand, the only thing you’ll ever be is poorer in every conceivable way imaginable.”

Conservative influencer Jon Root, who is a supporter of Trump, told NOTUS: “Anybody that you know holds true to strong biblical conviction and discernment wouldn’t be involved with Paula White.”

Evangelist and author Justin Peters shared a photo of White-Cain praying over Trump with the message: “I may vote with a false teacher, but I will never, ever, under any circumstances, pray with one or participate in any spiritual endeavor of any kind with one.”

Baptist leader William Wolfe, who served in Trump’s first administration, defended White-Cain and all the people praying over Trump to NOTUS.

“The White House Faith Office is not a church; it is a governmental office doing policy and political work,” he said, “No one in that room had to compromise on any theological beliefs to be there, but rather, we were all there because, despite any theological differences, we understand the importance of working together on major issues like religious liberty, protecting the unborn in America, combating the radical LGBT agenda that is harming children, etc.”

Newsweek has contacted the White House via email for comments.

What Did Paula White-Cain Say In Her Passover Sermon?

Before the advert calling for offerings, White-Cain said: “I believe that when you honor God on Passover, starting on April 12th at sundown, through Good Friday on the 18th and concluding on Easter Sunday, you can receive these seven supernatural blessings for you and your house.

“According to Exodus 23, God will assign an angel to you, he will be an enemy to your enemies, he will give you prosperity, he will take sickness away from you, he will give you a long life, he’ll bring increase in inheritance and he’ll bring a special year of blessing.

“You’re not doing this to get something, but you’re doing it in honour to God, realizing what you can receive.

“And God declares in Exodus 23:15: ‘None shall appear before me empty-handed.’ We always bring to God – that’s how he says from Genesis to Revelation.

“Ministry takes money. And if you have the ability to stand with us, I want to ask you to put your faith during this very holy time – because I give just to give, and I pray there are others, but also know we wanna get you some special gifts.”

What People Are Saying

Faith Office leader Jennifer Korn told NOTUS that the office has been “engaging with faith leaders across the country through briefings, listening sessions, and working meetings to discuss the President’s policy goals, including religious freedom, protecting women and children, foster care, adoption, and education.”

“We listen to their ideas and concerns to improve policy and ensure people of faith have a voice in their government, just like every other American.”

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen whether Trump’s administration will pay any mind to this criticism or whether it will overpower the Christians who like Cain-White.