A Netherlands-based evangelical television network has caused a stir in Texas after releasing a new episode of its docuseries titled “God, Jesus, Trump!” featuring controversial images of students from a local high school.
The goal of the faith-based Dutch film crew was to talk to Trump supporters across America, 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 child has been filmed,” parent Laney Hawes told locals ABC affiliate WFAA. “This crew was brought in under false pretenses and it was political, that’s the truth.”
“I am disappointed with the journalistic integrity of the film crew,” Hawes added.
The new episode releasing on Sunday is called ‘Texas – War on Woke’ and the description states that the aim of the episode is ‘talking to rabid Trump supporters, conspiracy theorists and shooting Democrats’.
Laney Hawes, parent of the student featured in the documentary, said the crew was “brought in under false pretenses and it was political.”
The crew 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
On a day when the principal was away, then-school board director Sandi Walker invited the film crew onto the school grounds without parental or district permission. Another trustee named Micah Young joined the crew while they were on campus.
Leaked emails show that the Dutch television channel Evangelische Omroep, responsible for broadcasting the documentary, contacted Walker on January 18 and told her that the film crew would come to Texas to “specifically look at the WOKE agenda” and “to zoom in on (the) gender transition situation – in sports and public toilet use,” according to CBS News.
Walker reportedly accepted the offer to meet and wrote back, “I also want to glorify God.”
Now that the documentary has aired, narrator Tijs van den Brink revealed that after the crew filmed at the school, Walker ‘begged’ them not to broadcast her interview because of the reactions she received from her parents. Walker resigned as trustee a short time later.
Brink ultimately did not record Walker’s interview, which infuriated Hawes because her son, who was an unwilling participant, was featured in the documentary while Walker was left out 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 Waco Regional Airport in Waco, Texas on March 25, 2023
“I think this speaks volumes about what was in that interview and why she resigned,” Hawes said.
The camera crew also showed an LGBTQ-friendly church in the documentary.
Pastor Katie Hays told WFAA, “I think they were honest in showing that there is a range of Christian expressions in this country. I think people around the world are really curious about how conservative Christians in our country can align with someone like Donald Trump.”
“I think they want to understand why white, evangelical Christians continue to vote for him,” she added.
Brink’s team also interviewed a female student from the Netherlands, who discussed how sex education in her home country is very liberal and open, while in Texas it is more taboo.
Brink said in the documentary that he had permission from the girl’s parents to air her comments, but he did not appear to defend the other images from 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 whether to take legal action against Evangelical Broadcasting.
“We have repeatedly demanded through legal representation that the unauthorized images be destroyed or returned, and those requests have not been met,” the spokesperson said.