Several news outlets falsely accused Steve Caudle of threatening Elon Musk with violence
Black Pastor Accused of Promoting Violence Against Elon Musk
By Mona Austin
(TSN): A Tennessee pastor is defending a viral sermon in which critics say he threatened violence against DOGE lead Elon Musk.
Dr. Steve Caudle, pastor of the Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church in Chatanooga, TN presumed in a Feb. 9 sermon that some people may resort to violence in reaction to Musk having access to the personal information of millions of Americans like social security numbers and bank account details.
Caudle told local news station his message was taken out of context and he is not apologizing for it.
The wording that came under fire was, "I will say to you, beloved, no one likes violence but sometimes violence is necessary when Elon Musk forces his way into the United States Treasury and threatens to steal your personal information and your Social Security check, there is a possibility of violence. Sometimes the devil will act so ugly that you have no other choice but to get violent and fight…”"
He says critics have been using the incident to promote propaganda.
Musk responded in a retweet sending c supporters on the attack. He posted a video and wrote; "This tells me that he is trying to hide MASSIVE fraud."
Critics have ignored the Constitutionally granted rights of separation of church and state and interpreted the sermon to be a call for violence. In a sermon entitled "The Violent Kingdom," citing Matthew 11-7:15, the pastor reverend compared the current political climate to today's possible government upheaval in America with emphasis on verse 11-12, which reads:
"From the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent taketh by force."
He later refers to violence on the football field and the battle field in places like Ukraine and Gaza, then goes on to say, "In this nation I believe we are on the verge of bloodshed. This is an attempt to take us back where we don't want to go and we will not go."
In fact, before delivering the message prayed for peace .
The misconstrued sermon triggered calls for Caudle to resign. Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp echoed calls for Caudle to step down saying it was “totally unacceptable” to use the pulpit to promote violence
The First Amendment protects freedom of speech.