Self-proclaimed Evangelical Christian "prophet" Charlie Shamp—who backed former Republican President Donald Trump in 2020—publicly ditched Trump. He now claims God wants Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis to be President in 2024.
Speaking on the The Jim Bakker Showlast week, the televangelist told audience members they "need to watch Ron DeSantis" because "the Lord is going to use him in a powerful way.”
Shamp went on to share a “vision” he received of two palm trees, one in Florida and the other in California. He said he'd spoken to God himself to learn the trees' respective identities.
He said God responded:
“This palm tree from California is Ronald Reagan. This palm tree that is in Florida is Ron DeSantis.”
Shamp said his vision offered definitive proof DeSantis will stand as a “tree of righteousness” in Washington, D.C. come 2024 and stand tall against "the storms."
He added:
“There’s something about Ron DeSantis that we need to begin to pray for. Because his ultimate future is to have a position in the United States as the President.”
Shamp was part of a long list of self-proclaimed prophets who suggested Trump will be returned to power before 2024 and embraced Trump’s repeatedly disproven conspiracy theories about the integrity of the 2020 election.
The belief Trump's candidacy was an apparent gift from God persisted for years among Evangelicals who played a major role in sending Trump to the White House in 2016. Their support for Trump appears to have cracked, at least somewhat, in the wake of his many scandals, legal troubles and a largely inactive 2024 campaign.
Still, the notion DeSantis and Reagan came to Shamp in the form of palm trees proved so ridiculous Twitter users couldn't resist making fun of it.
\u201cSo this Christian Prophet first declared Trump as god chosen but is now saying God has changed her mind and prefers DeSantis. News flash she prolly thinks they both are awful. https://t.co/XvtIXedXVJ\u201d— MissFedUp\ud83d\udda4\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@MissFedUp\ud83d\udda4\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1676651642
\u201cThis Christian Bozo Backed Trump in 2020. Now He Says God Favors DeSantis. Such hypocrisy! They are as unChristian as they come. https://t.co/gku5p1ZRLF\u201d— Andrew Mark (@Andrew Mark) 1676647224
\u201cThere are no Christian PROPHETS! None! Righteousness isn\u2019t a DeSatanas virtue! MoRON, Yes! \n\nThis Christian \u2018Prophet\u2019 Backed Trump in 2020. Now He Says God Favors DeSantis https://t.co/M6GWAPu5wn\u201d— JoseDimas Villalpando-Gomez (@JoseDimas Villalpando-Gomez) 1676695287
\u201cThis #ChristianProphet Charlie Shamp Backed Trump in 2020. Now He Says God Favors DeSantis.\n#GodsPlan does not take sides. He gives humans the trait to make their own choices. $400 million net worth and we are to believe God talks to this Grifter? Sad.\n https://t.co/2JpO3UhAS6\u201d— PghMagickMan \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\uddf7 (@PghMagickMan \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\uddf7) 1676683429
\u201cChristian \u2018Prophet\u2019 Backed Trump in 2020. Now He Says God Favors DeSantis\nOnce again a 'prophet' feeds off the vulnerable\n#CharlieShamp net worth estimate $400 million. He's been commissioned by Heaven as a Prophet to bring healing & revival in the nations https://t.co/2JpO3UhAS6\u201d— PghMagickMan \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\uddf7 (@PghMagickMan \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\uddf7) 1676663648
\u201cIf there truly is a god, you'd all be cast into the bowels of the infernos of hell. Don't make up lies that you "hear" a supreme being, you're just trying to line your pockets.\n\nThis Christian \u2018Prophet\u2019 Backed Trump in 2020. Now He Says God Favors DeSantis https://t.co/el4EtAWPBH\u201d— @POTUS PARDON REALITY WINNER - RT my memes! (@@POTUS PARDON REALITY WINNER - RT my memes!) 1676566451
\u201cI understand why more people are atheist now. #CharlieShamp says it all. Why would God pick racist perverts to run our country, when there was no president\u2019s in the days of Jesus? No True Christian would support evil clowns like \u2066@RonDeSantisFL\u2069. \ud83e\udd2a https://t.co/5v6SyKX9OD\u201d— TrumpIsA CultLeader (@TrumpIsA CultLeader) 1676644191
\u201cThis Christian \u2018Prophet\u2019 Backed Trump in 2020. Now He Says God Favors DeSantis https://t.co/5M1koDmO8s via @Yahoo\nGod does not pick politicians ever and he certainly doesn\u2019t talk to this fool.\u201d— William C. Megna (@William C. Megna) 1676582795
\u201cThis FAKE Christian \u2018Prophet\u2019 Backed Trump in 2020. Now He Says God Favors DeSantis. Just ShowsFalse Prophets will back anything that may fill their Tax Free Fraudulent Religious Coffers. https://t.co/wAJwSIUBAc\u201d— John Ryan (@John Ryan) 1676641528
DeSantis is Trump's biggest competition for the Republican presidential nomination for 2024—and Trump hates it.
Earlier this month, Trump reposted a meme of DeSantis "grooming high school girls with alcohol" on his Truth Social platform.
The photo Trump shared originated on Hill Reporter, a blog run by a Democratic Super PAC. The story behind the image is from The New York Times which reported in November, citing anonymous former students, DeSantis partied with seniors, attending at least two parties where alcohol was served.
Trump's attack against DeSantis came just two hours after DeSantis praised an attorney representing Dominion Voting Systems in their lawsuit against MyPillow CEO and Trump ally Mike Lindell.
DeSantis has not made an official announcement about a 2024 run but Trump has attacked him just the same, raising the ire of conservatives after referring to DeSantis as "Ron DeSanctimonious" during a recent rally.
