Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn has called for the United States to have a single religion.
Flynn made the remarks in San Antonio, Texas at a stop for the far-right "ReAwaken America" tour, which has amplified baseless claims about the integrity of the 2020 general election as well as the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.
You can hear his remarks in the video below.
Michael Flynn tonight: “If we are going to have one nation under God, which we must, we have to have one religion. One nation under God, and one religion under God." pic.twitter.com/ShGVrsQ9hW
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) November 13, 2021
Flynn said:
"If we are going to have one nation under God — which we must — we have to have one religion. One nation under God, and one religion under God."
Such claims are in direct opposition to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which, among others, decrees that Congress "shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
Flynn's statements were harshly criticized by retired U.S. Army General Mark Hertling, who called Flynn, a former lieutenant general, "an embarrassment to the US Army."
This man is an embarrassment to the US Army & an aberration to those of us who have proudly worn the cloth of our country. His words are disgusting. https://t.co/Oi5AQhROeW
— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) November 14, 2021
Others have also moved to condemn Flynn, decrying him as a bigot issuing dangerous, inflammatory rhetoric.
Has there ever been a bunch who talked about the Constitution more and understood it less? https://t.co/CyPWNR7ZG2
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) November 14, 2021
Everything about this is absurd, of course.
But it's particularly absurd that the kinda folks cheering this on are the QAnon types who supposedly view the US Constitution as sacred. https://t.co/s3KEBJNpsH
— Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) November 15, 2021
If any non-sycophant gets a chance to interview Flynn they should ask him what he proposes be done about all of the inconvenient non-Christians living in the USA. https://t.co/cYISJasLyM
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) November 14, 2021
Seriously scary. Anyone ever heard of religious freedom? https://t.co/FS1O9r25zn
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) November 14, 2021
To suggest we have 1 nationalized religion in this country is possibly the most UnAmerican thing you can do https://t.co/7Sr6GTvmgz
— Jeff Shaull (@jeff_shaull) November 14, 2021
Flynn has been spewing anti-Muslim bigotry for years. Now he's branching out. That tends to happen. It's why Jewish bigots like @JoshMandelOhio don't only threaten Muslims. They threaten us. https://t.co/wOOACPRGvH
— Peter Beinart (@PeterBeinart) November 14, 2021
If you need yet another example of Michael Flynn's treason, here it is
When I say treason, I mean that without hyperbole. His oath was the Constitution, which he as repeatedly betrayed, and thus he gives aid and comfort to everything America stands against. He is a traitor. https://t.co/M3S7N3nqQO
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) November 14, 2021
“One religion…"
So authoritarianism wasn't enough, they want a theocracy too. 🤔
Not only is this alarming, it's unconstitutional. https://t.co/bzFcXPLx1i
— Tara Setmayer (@TaraSetmayer) November 14, 2021
Flynn sparked controversy earlier this year after he appeared to endorse an overthrow of the United States government.
"No reason, I mean, it should happen here. No reason. That's right," Flynn responded to a member of the audience at a Dallas event who inquired whether a coup not unlike the one that happened in Myanmar in February.
Lawyer Sidney Powell, who has represented Flynn in the past, insisted Flynn had not encouraged "any act of violence or any military insurrection." She attributed the furor surrounding Flynn's comments to media distortion.
A Parler account belonging to Flynn later claimed that his comments were taken out of context.
But Flynn has long made headlines for incendiary behavior, in particular his conduct that was investigated during the federal investigation into Russia's efforts to subvert the electoral process.
Flynn resigned from the White House in disgrace after he provided false information about his communications with the Russian government, particularly after the news of his conversations with Sergey Kislyak, then the Russian ambassador to the United States, became public.
He later pleaded guilty to a felony count of "willfully and knowingly" making false statements to the FBI.
In May 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a court motion to drop all charges against Flynn and the criminal case against him was later dismissed. Former President Donald Trump later issued him a pardon.
