A Turning Point Faith Leader Asks Trump to Step In as Australian Lawmakers Question a Church Leader About Pets and Haircuts

A Turning Point USA faith leader wants President Trump to pressure Australia over how its parliament questioned a church leader. Fox News reports, in an exclusive, that Lucas Miles, vice president of faith at Turning Point USA, says he has contacted the White House Faith Office and several administration officials about an inquiry into the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. "We're hoping to see some response and action soon," Miles said.

The hearing. At an Oct. 16 parliamentary hearing on alleged coordinated political activity by church members during Australia's 2025 federal election, independent MP Monique Ryan asked the church's global leader, Bruce Hales, whether members saw him as an "elect vessel" or a messenger from God. She also asked whether members sought his guidance on marriage, housing, pets, clothing and facial hair. Liberal MP Ben Small called that "patently ridiculous" and "so far off the terms of reference." The committee chair let it continue.

The denial. Hales told the committee he had "no involvement whatsoever" in any member's volunteering in the election. Lawmakers asked whether a sermon in which he said Australia needed to be "happy again, smiling again" influenced political activity, citing later campaign messaging that echoed it. His son Gareth said he encouraged people already involved in campaigning but denied directing an organized church effort. Hales said he did not support harassment or intimidation. The committee is also examining allegations of intimidation and coordinated campaigning, which church leaders deny.

The U.S. angle. Sen. Steph Hodgins-May asked Hales about Turning Point USA's support for the church and whether leaders had met the Trump administration. Hales said he had never met Trump, though some members in New York briefly had.

Miles' argument. Miles, who is not a church member, called the line of questioning "a politically motivated witch hunt" and said "government has every right to investigate violations of election law, but it has no business putting Christian doctrine on trial." He wants diplomatic pressure on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and called the case "a canary in the coal mine for religious liberty." He added: "If this can happen in Australia, if it can happen places like England and Canada, it certainly can happen America if we don't stay alert."

The church. The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church traces its roots back about 200 years and says it has roughly 55,000 members worldwide. It rejects descriptions of itself as a cult. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox.

Note for readers: the case for intervention is Miles' view. We have not seen the hearing transcript.