A Dutch-based evangelical television network has caused a stir in Texas after releasing a new episode of its docuseries titled ‘God, Jesus, Trump!’ which controversially features images of students from a local high school.
The faith-based Dutch film crew’s goal was to talk to Trump supporters across the United States, especially religious ones, to see why they voted for the former president.
But for some parents in the Keller School District, the film crew crossed the line on Feb. 9 when they entered Central High School to talk to children.
“My son was filmed,” father Laney Hawes told a local WFAA, ABC affiliate. “This team was brought in under false pretenses and it was political, that’s the truth.”
“I’m disappointed in the journalistic integrity of the film crew,” Hawes added.
The new episode released on Sunday is called ‘Texas – War on Woke’ and the description said the purpose of the episode is to ‘talk to pro-Trump fanatics, conspiracy theorists and take shots at Democrats.’
Laney Hawes, father of the student featured in the documentary, said the team “was hired under false pretenses and was political.”
The team films students at Central High School in Texas as part of their documentary episode ‘Texas – War on Woke’.
Former President Donald Trump gestures to supporters during his first rally of 2024 on March 25, 2023 in Waco, Texas.
One day when the principal was absent, then-school board member Sandi Walker invited the film crew to the school without parent or district approval. Another trustee named Micah Young joined the team when they were on campus.
Leaked emails show that Dutch television station Evangelische Omroep, responsible for airing the documentary, contacted Walker on January 18 to tell him that the film crew would be coming to Texas to “look specifically at WOKE’s agenda” and “approach (the) gender transition situation – in sports and in the use of public bathrooms,” according to CBS News.
Walker reportedly accepted the offer to meet and responded, “I want to glorify God, too.”
Now that the documentary has aired, its narrator Tijs van den Brink revealed that after the crew filmed at the school, Walker “begged” them not to broadcast his interview because of the backlash he was receiving from parents. Walker resigned as administrator shortly thereafter.
Brink ultimately did not include Walker’s interview, which angered Hawes because her son, who was unwilling to participate, appeared in the documentary while Walker was removed at her request.
Outside Central High School, where the controversial Dutch filmmakers were invited as part of their documentary ‘God, Jesus, Trump!’
Former President Donald Trump waves to the crowd during a campaign rally at the Waco Regional Airport in Waco, Texas, on March 25, 2023.
“I think that says a lot about what was in that interview and why he resigned,” Hawes said.
The camera crew also featured an LGBTQ-friendly church in the documentary.
Their pastor Katie Hays told WFAA: ‘I think they were fair in showing that there are a variety of Christian expressions in this country. I think people around the world are really curious about how conservative Christians in our country can align themselves with a person like Donald Trump.
“I think they want to understand why white evangelical Christians continue to vote for him,” he added.
Brink’s team also interviewed a student from the Netherlands who talked about how sex education is very liberal and open in her home country, while in Texas it is more taboo.
Brink said in the documentary that he had permission from the girl’s parents to air his comments, but he does not appear to defend the other images from inside the school, according to WFAA.
Trustee Young remains on the board despite his role in the controversy, and a spokesperson for the Keller School District said they have not yet made a decision to take legal action against Evangelische Omroep.
“We have repeatedly demanded through legal representation that unauthorized images be destroyed or returned, and those requests have not been met,” the spokesperson said.