In Depth:  Tony Bennett

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Why does Trump get things back to front?

Why does Trump get things back to front?

Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett

One of President Trump’s flaws is that he too often gets things the wrong way round. To put it simply, he seems to want the cake but doesn’t like baking. In fact, he doesn’t really do baking at all, but still expects a perfect cake! And that flaw is all too obvious in this week’s frantic round out activity regarding Ukraine and Russia.

So we’ve had the first meeting between the presidents of the USA and Russia in over four years – but it was arranged at the drop of a hat. Normally months of preparation would precede such an important meeting. First, diplomatic envoys from both sides would thrash out all the details, leaving the two presidents merely to dot the "I"s and cross the "T"s and do the flashy PR bit with the handshakes and the press conference. But before the Alaska summit last Friday, there was no time for preparation.

Not about US: The misuse of one verse in American evangelicalism
Politics USA

Not about US: The misuse of one verse in American evangelicalism

Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett

Former Vice President Mike Pence has for many years introduced himself to audiences by saying: “I’m a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican – in that order.”

I’ve heard many evangelical Christians in the UK speak warmly of Pence’s strong Biblical faith. Indeed, there is much to admire. But I’m concerned.

The US Supreme Court and questions of justice
Politics USA

The US Supreme Court and questions of justice

Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett

In the UK we are used to Parliament being the law-making body for the nation. But a recent ruling by the UK Supreme Court on the meaning of “sex” for the purposes of gender discrimination showed that sometimes it’s the Supreme Court that has the final word.

How the US Supreme Court works

Our Supreme Court is not yet 20 years old and is only just beginning to make its mark. The United States Supreme Court, on the other hand, was created back in 1789 as a coequal branch of the federal government, alongside Congress and the Presidency. It even has the power to declare Acts of Congress unconstitutional, and thereby null and void. (The UK Supreme Court has no comparable power.) Through this power, the US Supreme Court has become the final arbiter of what the laws mean and, most importantly, what the Constitution means. That’s why most important cases of legal and constitutional importance end up there.

Trump and 'the most important issue': Immigration
Politics USA

Trump and 'the most important issue': Immigration

Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett

Rather like studying Scripture, context is so important.

In 2015, having glided down that gold escalator in Trump Tower in New York to announce his first presidential bid, Donald Trump was not a minute into the speech when he delivered this broadside against immigrants: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems … They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.”

President Lazarus? Understanding US politics

President Lazarus? Understanding US politics

Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett

Having spent a lifetime teaching and writing about American politics, I’m often asked this question by bemused church friends: “Why did 82% of white evangelical men vote for Donald Trump in 2024?” And the first thing that I want them to understand is that both they and those American voters are using the word “evangelical” to mean two different things.

My friends use the word to refer to something spiritual centring on the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ concerning man’s sinfulness, Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross, the empowering of the Holy Spirit to live God-honouring lives, and the need to preach that gospel to those as yet unsaved.

Letter

Donald Trump’s faith?

Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Date posted: 1 Oct 2016

Dear Sir,

First, our hearty thanks for all the work that goes into producing en. My wife and I hugely look forward to reading it each month.

European integration and the Christian?

Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett

Tony Blair has given signals that he will be looking for Britain to adopt the euro in the next few years. No doubt there will be much debate among Christians about this. Here Tony Bennett expresses views against . . .

France and Germany began European integration by agreeing joint production of coal and steel in 1949, and developing that in 1951 by bringing Italy and the Benelux countries into the 'European Coal and Steel Federation'.