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Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert is facing heavy criticism after expressing the hope Democratic President Joe Biden's "days be few" at the Spiritual and Leadership Training (SALT) conference at Storehouse Church in Dallas, Texas.
The comments also raised further alarms over the spread of Christian nationalism and Christofascism within the Republican Party.
Boebert said she was quoting Psalm 109:8 from the Bible, which reads, "Let his days be few, and let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow."
The Psalm in question is often interpreted as a prayer for the premature death of an enemy and has traditionally been called the "Judas Psalm" for an interpretation relating the verse to Judas Iscariot's punishment as noted in the New Testament.
The verse has often been used by fundamentalist preachers to "curse" anyone who could doubt there is a place for wrongdoers who patently reject the will of God.
You can hear what Boebert said in the video below.
\u201cA church congregation cheered as Lauren Boebert said she prays for Joe Biden's demise: "May his days be few and another take his office.\u201d\n\nBoebert then called Kamala Harris, Joe Biden\u2019s \u201cgreat insurance policy.\u201d\u201d— PatriotTakes \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@PatriotTakes \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1675707342
Boebert said:
"God said that he was the provider. I know that Jesus said we would be blessed, I just don't know about this month. And Jesus is right there at the table with you!"
"What kind of conversation is this? Why are you talking like this and why are you sad?"
"Jesus, don't you know we're out of money? COVID's hit, they shut everything down, Joe Biden's President, we don't know what to do Lord."
Amid cheers and laughter, Boebert added:
"That's all right, we pray for our Presidents—let his days be few and another take his office. That's why I filed articles of impeachment for Joe Biden. Unfortunately, he does have a really great insurance policy named [Vice President] Kamala Harris."
Boebert's comments sparked immediate backlash as many accused her of calling for Biden's death.
\u201cLauren Boebert constantly misconstrues the Bible and she's doing the same to the Constitution.\n\nPeople like her will be the ruin of our country.\u201d— Brian O'Sullivan (@Brian O'Sullivan) 1675782298
\u201cBREAKING: Trumper Congresswoman Lauren Boebert tells a church congregation that she is praying to Jesus that President Biden\u2019s \u201cdays be few.\u201d She\u2019s a threat to our president and democracy \u2014 and must be expelled from Congress immediately!\u201d— Occupy Democrats (@Occupy Democrats) 1675720054
\u201cIt disgusts me that "Christians" can hide behind their religion to say things like "may his days be few" in reference to the President & then cheer as Lauren Boebert says this. \n\nReal Christians shouldn't be cheering for the death of someone. They're pro-life, remember? \ud83d\ude44\u201d— Jeff Hudson (@Jeff Hudson) 1675774927
\u201cLauren Boebert prayed for the death of President Biden at church, saying "may his days be few."\n\nShouldn't there be a higher standard for behavior by members of Congress?\u201d— Really American \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Really American \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1675783513
\u201cWho else doesn\u2019t trust Lauren Boebert having her weapon around President Biden for the State of the Union address?\u201d— \u15f0\u15e9\u01b3\u1587\u15e9 \u2119\ud835\udd59\ud835\udd60\ud835\udd65\ud835\udd60\ud835\udd58\ud835\udd63\ud835\udd52\ud835\udd61\ud835\udd59\ud835\udd6a (@\u15f0\u15e9\u01b3\u1587\u15e9 \u2119\ud835\udd59\ud835\udd60\ud835\udd65\ud835\udd60\ud835\udd58\ud835\udd63\ud835\udd52\ud835\udd61\ud835\udd59\ud835\udd6a) 1675778248
\u201cLauren Boebert just prayed for Biden\u2019s death \u2014 her crowd of evangelicals LAUGHED and cheered\n\nLast June she also prayed for Biden\u2019s death \u2014 her audience also cheered\n\nTHIS is the self-proclaimed party of Jesus Christ\n\nThis is the self-appointed party of Christianity\n\nSHAME ON YOU\u201d— Lindy Li (@Lindy Li) 1675726966
\u201c. @laurenboebert just quoted Psalm 109 speaking about the president. \n\n\u2026May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow\u2026\n\nA member of congress just wished death upon the President.\u201d— DutchessPrim\ud83d\udc99 (@DutchessPrim\ud83d\udc99) 1675731582
\u201cLauren Boebert using Jesus's name to justify the actions of the GOP is about the cringiest thing I've ever heard. I'm Jewish and I know that Jesus would open his arms to refugees, tear down walls - not build them, care for our sick and elderly, and definitely not vote Republican.\u201d— Ed Krassenstein (@Ed Krassenstein) 1675772724
This is the second time Boebert referenced the same Psalm in relation to Biden.
Last year, a congregation at the Family Camp Meeting at Charis Christian Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado cheered Boebert on as she quoted it and laughed.
Boebert's use of the Psalm prompted many to point out it had been used by Republicans to target former Democratic President Barack Obama as well.
In 2016, former Georgia Republican Senator David Perdue applied the Psalm to Obama though he insisted he meant no harm. The Psalm became known as the "Obama prayer" after circulating for years in conservative circles.