FAITH • PROVIDENCE • HISTORY
NOT THIS APPOINTMENT
How an apparent political defeat became an intermission before an extraordinary convergence of American and world history
NNH NEWS CORP EDITORIAL BOARD | 21 JULY 2026
Donald Trump’s defeat in the 2020 presidential election appeared, at the time, to be a devastating denial—a closed door and the abrupt ending of a political era. Yet, viewed through the lens of faith and providence, perhaps it was not the end at all.
Perhaps it was merely an intermission: a space-filler, a commercial break in the unfolding story of his life.
Had Trump won the 2020 election, his constitutionally permitted second term would have ended in January 2025. He would therefore have completed his presidency before an extraordinary convergence of once-in-a-generation events in American and world history.
Instead, he returned to office on January 20, 2025, as the 47th President of the United States—becoming only the second American president to serve two nonconsecutive terms. What appeared to be the loss of an appointment may, from a providential perspective, have been preparation for a more historically significant appointment.
A Presidency Positioned at the Meeting Point of History
Trump’s second administration coincides with events that no other American president will experience in precisely the same combination.
| HISTORIC MOMENT | WHY THE TIMING MATTERS |
|---|---|
| America at 250 | On July 4, 2026, the United States commemorated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence—its Semiquincentennial. Trump occupied the presidency at this once-only national milestone. |
| The 2026 FIFA World Cup | From June 11 to July 19, 2026, the United States co-hosted the first 48-team men’s FIFA World Cup with Canada and Mexico. The expanded tournament comprised 104 matches and placed America at the centre of the world’s largest sporting spectacle. |
| The Fourth of July Convergence | The World Cup unfolded during the same summer in which America celebrated 250 years of independence. The country simultaneously looked back on its founding and opened its doors to the world. |
| The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics | The Olympic Games are scheduled for July 14–30, 2028, followed by the Paralympic Games from August 15–27. Los Angeles will again place the United States at the centre of global sport, human achievement and international unity. |
What Looked Like Defeat May Have Been Divine Delay
What appeared in 2020 to be rejection may therefore be interpreted as redirection. What looked like defeat may have been divine delay.
The four years between his two administrations may not have been wasted or empty years. They may have served as a bridge between one appointment and another—a period during which circumstances, opportunities and history itself were moving into alignment.
Sometimes disappointment is not the cancellation of destiny. Perhaps some doors close because entering them immediately would cause us to arrive too early. Perhaps some victories are delayed because the significance attached to them has not yet matured.
Had Trump received the appointment he sought in 2020, he would have missed the extraordinary historical appointment awaiting him in 2025. He might have gained an immediate victory but lost the opportunity to preside during America’s 250th anniversary, the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games. The denial may therefore have protected the greater appointment.
| “Not this appointment. Not at this time. I have reserved another appointment for you.” |
The Command to Wait
This is the enduring lesson of Psalm 27:14:
“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
— Psalm 27:14, KJV
Waiting does not necessarily mean that God has forgotten. A closed door does not always mean permanent rejection. A delay does not mean that the promise has died.
Sometimes the promise remains intact, but the appointed time has not yet arrived. The waiting period may be protecting us from arriving prematurely and positioning us to arrive precisely when our presence will carry its greatest meaning.
Whether one supports Donald Trump politically or not, the remarkable arc of defeat, waiting and return offers a powerful illustration of a universal truth: human beings often judge an entire story by its most painful chapter, while God may still be writing the conclusion.
What looked like a political ending became a political return. What appeared to be the conclusion became an intermission. What seemed to be the loss of the presidency became a pathway back to the presidency at one of the most historically significant moments in the life of the United States.
Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”
— Jeremiah 32:27, KJV
What appears impossible to humanity may simply be awaiting God’s appointed moment. Disappointment does not always mean, “You will never receive it.” Sometimes it means:
NOT THIS APPOINTMENT—NOT YET.
EDITORIAL NOTE: This commentary is a faith-based interpretation of political events and historical timing. It does not claim divine endorsement of any political figure, party or policy.
Reference Points
- White House: Swearing-In Ceremony of Donald J. Trump, 47th President of the United States, January 20, 2025.
- America250: The United States commemorated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.
- FIFA: The 2026 World Cup ran from June 11 to July 19, with 48 teams and 104 matches across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
- LA28 / Olympics: Olympic Games, July 14–30, 2028; Paralympic Games, August 15–27, 2028.
