Michael Flynn, who was briefly national security adviser under former President Donald Trump, said the United States should have a single religion. “If we are going to have one nation under God, which we must, we have to have one religion,” Flynn said during a speech at the “Reawaken America” conference in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday night. “One nation under God, and one religion under God.” Flynn has recently taken to talking about his Christian faith as a way to refute claims by QAnon followers that he worships Satan.
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Flynn earlier blasted the indictment of former White House strategist Steve Bannon for his failure to comply with subpoenas issued by the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. He said Bannon was indicted for an “abuse of freedom of speech.” The former national security adviser also characterized the investigation into the riot as “the insurrection crucifixion” and likened House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Pontius Pilate. “This is a crucifixion of our First Amendment freedom to speak, freedom to peacefully assemble. It’s unbelievable,” Flynn said.
Flynn’s suggestion that there should only be one religion in the United States drew quick backlash on social media. “These people hate the US Constitution,” tweeted Rep. Ilhan Omar with a link to the video. Preet Bharara, a former U.S. attorney who was fired by Trump, tweeted: “Wow look how much Michael Flynn hates America.” Retired Gen. Mark Hertling said Flynn is “an embarrassment to the US Army” and characterized his words as “disgusting.”
This is hardly the first time Flynn has gotten attention for his statements that seem to go against some of the basic tenets of American democracy. In May, Flynn said at a QAnon conference that a military coup like the one that took place in Myanmar “should happen” in the United States. Flynn was Trump’s national security adviser for less than a month and resigned after it was revealed he lied about conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States. Flynn twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, and Trump pardoned him.
