Conservative evangelical Christian leader Franklin Graham blamed the effectiveness of the American criminal justice system after his call to prayer for former Republican President Donald Trump backfired when Trump became the first former President to be convicted of felony crimes.
On Thursday, Trump was convicted of all 34 counts after a New York jury unanimously found him guilty of falsifying business records to illegally interfere with the 2016 election by covering up his alleged extramarital dalliance with an adult film star.
Graham, who is the son of the late Christian evangelist Billy Graham, asked Americans to join him in prayer for Trump before Thursday's historic verdict.
He wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
"Today join me in praying for former President @realDonaldTrump."
"We pray that God’s will be done."
At the time, social media users expressed having faith in the U.S. justice system.
Twelve New York City jurors deliberated for nearly nine-and-a-half hours over two days before reaching their guilty verdicts on all counts.
Following Thursday's verdict, Trump, who has denied having a sexual encounter with adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2006, maintained he was a "very innocent man" and that he would "keep fighting."
The ex-president-turned-convicted felon told reporters outside the courtroom:
“This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here."
Meanwhile, the crowds cheered alongside Trump's detractors outside the courthouse and on social media after hearing the verdict.
And people went back to Graham's prayer post with a common refrain.
After the verdict, Graham took to X again, apparently lamenting the results of his prayers:
"Our country is at a crossroads."
"What we saw today has never happened before, and I think for the majority of Americans, it raises questions about whether our legal system can be trusted."
He then asked Americans to pray for the restoration of the country.
"Pray for our nation, for God‘s guiding hand that this republic will be one nation under God with liberty and justice for all."
Users found it absolutely divine that the power of prayer sealed Trump's fate.
Graham was lambasted in the comments.
Trump's criminal conviction will not bar him from continuing his campaign for the White House.
His sentencing is set for July 11, mere days ahead of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee where GOP leaders are expected to fully back him as their party's nominee.
Trump also faces three other cases, including conspiring to overturn the 2020 election and illegally hiding government documents.
However, it's likely that none of those cases will proceed to trial before the election.
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