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Donald Trump (L), Reverend Sun Myung Moon and wife Hak Ja Han Moon (R) Getty Images (L), Reuters (R)
Donald Trump spoke at an event on Saturday to praise the founders of the controversial Unification Church.
The church, which followers often call the Moonies, ‘has been widely described as a cult.
A former cult member said the group had deep ties to the modern Republican Party.
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On Saturday, Donald Trump spoke at a meeting organized by Hak Ja Han Moon, the widow of Reverend Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the controversial Unification Church.
Reverend Moon founded the church in South Korea in 1954 before moving to the United States in 1971, and it has been widely described as a cult.
Donald Trump was a featured keynote speaker at the “Rally of Hope” event, which coincided with the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
In his speech, Trump said, “I want to thank the Universal Peace Federation and especially Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, a tremendous man, for his incredible work in the name of world peace.”
“What they have achieved on the peninsula is just amazing. In just a few decades, the inspiration they have brought for the entire planet has been incredible, and I am repeatedly congratulated,” Trump said of the couple. .
Reverend Moon called him a Messiah and claimed that he had been asked by Jesus Christ to continue his work on earth.
The controversial church, whose followers colloqually referred to it as the “Moonies,” became famous for arranging extensive marriages between strangers.
The group is still active around the world.
Thousands of couples participated in a wedding ceremony at the Cheongshim Peace World Center on February 17, 2013 in Gapyeong-gun, South Korea. Chung Sung-Hun / Getty Images
In his speech, Donald Trump also took the opportunity to take credit for improving the security situation on the Korean peninsula.
“Looking back today, it’s easy to forget how dangerous the situation was when I was elected,” Trump said.
“Missiles are flying, nuclear weapons are being tested, and powerful threats are being released every day.”
“Under my leadership, the United States has adopted a policy of unprecedented force,” Trump said.
The story continues
Jim Stewartson, founder of the anti-disinformation organization The Think Project, wrote on Twitter that the event was “extremely hurtful and deceptive.”
“This is being advocated by a who’s who among those who advocate extremists as a kind of peace mission to unify Korea,” Stewartson wrote.
“In reality, dangerous bleaching of the propaganda of a dangerous cult.”
Those who left the group, including one of the Moon’s daughters, described having abused during their time at church.
In a blog post, Steve Hassan, a former church member who is now a cult expert, described how the group indoctrinates members.
Hassan added on Twitter that the group has long established ties with Donald Trump and the modern Republican party.
In 1991, Trump reportedly considered selling his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago to Reverend Moon, but the church leader later denied he was interested in owning.
Other high -profile GOP figures, including former vice presidents Mike Pence and Dick Cheney, also spoke at events organized by the group.
Hyung Jin “Sean” Moon, the son of the Moons, campaigned for Donald Trump and attended the capitol uprising on January 6th.
He also built an offshoot church called the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary Church in Pennsylvania, which made MAGA politics a central principle.
The group is famous for worshiping while carrying AR-15 rifles and has a 40-acre compound in Texas that it says is a safe haven for “patriots.”
Members of the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary hold their AR-15 rifles as they participate in a Life Holy Marriage Blessing at the church on October 14, 2019 in Newfoundland, Pennsylvania. Spencer Platt / Getty Images
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