A faith leader from Turning Point USA is urging President Donald Trump to step in after Australian lawmakers questioned a Christian church leader about his beliefs, including his influence over members’ marriages, hairstyles, and even pet ownership.
Lucas Miles, the vice president of faith at Turning Point USA, reached out to the White House Faith Office and several administration officials regarding what he characterized as a politically motivated investigation into the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. “We’ve gotten in touch with the faith office and various administration members to ensure they’re aware of this situation,” Miles mentioned, expressing hope for a prompt response and action.
The controversy escalated following an October 16 parliamentary hearing that investigated claims of coordinated political action by church members during Australia’s 2025 federal election. Independent MP Monique Ryan challenged Bruce Hales, the church’s global leader, about whether church members saw him as a “vessel” or a messenger from God, and if they looked to him for guidance on areas like marriage, housing, and personal grooming.
Liberal MP Ben Small criticized the line of questioning, calling it “patently ridiculous” and beyond the scope of the inquiry. Another lawmaker argued that hair choices had nothing to do with election matters, yet the questioning continued.
“When an Australian parliamentary committee, which is supposed to be investigating election issues, starts asking a Christian leader about his beliefs, it raises serious concerns about the inquiry’s true intent,” Miles stated. He pointed out that Hales was there to discuss electoral conduct, not defend church doctrine before the government.
The situation seems to hint at a wider issue regarding religious freedom, according to Miles. “The troubling shift from looking at election oversight to probing religious beliefs gives the impression of a politically charged witch hunt,” he remarked.
Hales denied any involvement in directing or funding political campaigns during the 2025 election, asserting that church members acted independently. “I had no involvement at all with any members who volunteered or participated in any part of the federal election,” he stated during the hearing.
Lawmakers speculated whether a sermon where Hales remarked that Australia needed to be “happy again, smiling again” had influenced his followers’ political engagement, noting campaign messages that mirrored his comments. Hales’ son, Gareth, acknowledged that he had encouraged people already involved in campaigning but denied orchestrating a church campaign.
The committee is also delving into claims of intimidation and coordinated campaigning during the election, which church leaders have denied. Hales emphasized that he does not condone harassment or intimidation and believes each member should be held accountable for their actions.
In a free society, Miles suggested, the government has the right to investigate election law violations but should not be judging Christian doctrine. The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, with approximately 55,000 members worldwide, claims to follow a “Doctrine of Separation,” which distances them from secular activities deemed conflicting with biblical teachings. They reject labels of being a cult and insist their members practice their faith freely while contributing to their communities.
The hearing turned towards the United States when Sen. Steph Hodgins-May inquired about Turning Point USA’s support for the church and potential meetings between church leaders and the Trump administration. Hales clarified he had never met Trump but knew some church members in New York had briefly encountered the president.
Miles, who does not belong to this denomination, expressed his desire for Trump to exert diplomatic pressure on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to halt the inquiry. “What I’d like to see is some pressure applied, either through diplomatic channels or directly from the president,” he noted.
He remains hopeful that the administration will act, warning that this situation could set a troubling precedent for American churches. “If it can happen in Australia and other places like England and Canada, it could happen in America if we’re not vigilant,” Miles stressed, emphasizing that Christians should be allowed to engage in politics without being held accountable for their church’s beliefs.
“Just because individuals from the same church share similar political views doesn’t create a conspiracy,” he highlighted. He urged Trump to advocate for “faith-based diplomacy” to protect religious freedom abroad. “Religious liberty means nothing if it only protects beliefs the government approves of,” Miles concluded.
The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
