A Christian Leader's Warning on Trump: Tihomer Kukolja on Nationalism, Gaza, and the Way of Jesus

In this wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation, Pat Kahnke speaks with Reverend Tihomir Kukolja—a Christian leader shaped by war, steeped in reconciliation work, and unafraid to speak hard truths.

Kukolja reflects on the collapse of Yugoslavia, the rise of Donald Trump, the horrors of Gaza, and the dangerous theology driving evangelical silence and complicity. Drawing from decades of international ministry and firsthand experience in Sarajevo, he warns that the same forces that tore apart the Balkans are at work in America—and in the church.

Together, they explore:
• The emotional and political costs of evangelical eschatology
• How Christian nationalism mirrors religious extremism
• Why “criticizing Israel” is not antisemitism
• The model of Jesus vs. the model of Trump
• How truth-telling, not niceness, heals division

This is not abstract theology. It’s about how we lead, how we love, and whether our faith contributes to peace—or war.

“Christian nationalism and Islamic jihadism are two sides of the same coin—when faith is used to justify violence, it's no longer the faith of Jesus.” – Tihomir Kukolja

If you’ve been searching for faithful resistance and global Christian perspective, this episode is a must-listen.