Glenn Beck slams bogus reports that The Nazarene Fund pledged — and then withdrew — $600,000 for plane full of dogs: 'We're not charging to get to freedom'
Conservative commentator and radio staple Glenn Beck slammed a nonprofit group for what he says is a "defamatory lie" after they tweeted that Beck's Nazarene Fund pledged $600,000 to help them fly dogs from war-torn Kabul, but then rescinded the offer.
The group, "Veteran Sheepdogs of America," tweeted, "@glennbeck group committed $600,000 then decommitted helping get our flight get off. State Department is aware and NOT HAPPY."
The tweet naturally raised eyebrows, and received more than 1,000 likes in less than 12 hours.
.@glennbeck group committed $600,000 then decommitted helping get our flight get off. State Department is aware and NOT HAPPY. 😭
— Veteran Sheepdogs of America (@VetSheepdogsUS) 1630393774.0
What are the details?
Beck addressed the reports during his Tuesday radio show, and stated that The Nazarene Fund simply never pledged to help the group — nor would it have because the group did not have even the most basic requirements for a nonprofit organization to assist such as proof of clearance to get in and out of Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport.
"I just found out about this this morning, and when I found out about it, I thought, 'That smells like bullcrap,'" Beck began the fiery segment. "And so I got a hold of the CEO, and COO, and everybody else involved with The Nazarene Fund because I saw a tweet from 'VetSheepdogsUS,' and normally I would immediately just take VetSheepdogsUS at their word, but seeing that it was against me or The Nazarene Fund, I didn't take them at their word. They're a 501c3, 'a veteran organization with a sheepdog mentality to advocate for all veterans.' The tweet went out this morning, it said, 'Glenn Beck's group ... committed $600,000 then decommitted helping get our flight off. State Department is aware and not happy.'"
"OK," he said. "The first tip is that this person doesn't know what they're talking about or they're on the wrong side is that they called the State Department and got somebody on the phone that said, 'Oh my gosh, that happened to you? That's horrible!' OK. Well, really? Because we can't even get the State Department on the phone usually. So I immediately called and said, all right. Does anybody know, is this true, what happened if it is?"
Beck said that after discussing the issue with The Nazarene Fund's executives, he was fully convinced that his nonprofit organization never offered any money to Veteran Sheepdogs of America, and especially not $600,000.
"Let me reassure you now: This is not true. Not true," he insisted. "There was no money ever committed to this group or for this plane. And apparently, they were going to take the dogs that were left behind — which, my heart breaks for the dogs, and I think it's wrong that they left the dogs behind. But they were going to take the dogs and put them on the plane and then apparently because they did reach out to us — let's see here, we were contacted by many of our partners asking about this plane that was transporting dogs and charging for additional seats at $6,000 to $10,000 per seat to get out of Kabul airport."
Beck said that The Nazarene Fund immediately balked when they heard that the plane — which was set for transporting dogs — would be charging people anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000 for seats on the plane.
"We, of course, because we're good stewards with the money, we of course asked for some detail, we did our due diligence, tried to get some background. ... So we got a hold of the person who was selling these tickets and he asked us for $600,000. Well, we don't ever sell tickets," he fumed. "We won't get involved with people who are selling tickets. You can do that, that's fine; but we're not charging to get to freedom. I don't think that is right to do. And luckily, we have the money we don't have to. So we don't ever charge anyone that we rescue anything for those seats, ever."
He explained that the unnamed person representing Veteran Sheepdogs of America told Nazarene Fund executives that they were unable to provide any clearance or proof to get into Kabul.
"[W]e would have been happy to provide a flight, but they couldn't provide any clearance or proof into Kabul," Beck said. "Had they been able to provide proof of clearance, we could have gone to the next step, which was 'We've got some other questions.' My team, I am told, asked this individual, 'Can you provide clearance paperwork into Kabul, the callsign, tail number and clearance code.' If you don't have that, you don't have a plane! You don't have a way to get — give me your tail number! And if you have the plane, give me the callsign, the tail number, and then give me the clearance code, because nothing's flying in. ... I'm not gonna give you $600,000 if you can't land the plane. They didn't have it."
Beck said that his group would have had myriad more questions, but the group representative couldn't even answer the most basic of questions about how the proposed operation would work.
"How are you getting them through to the gates of the airport safely? Because we can't do that," Beck said. "And I don't know anyone who can. You're coming with dogs and people? How are you doing that? Maybe we can learn something from you. Couldn't provide that. Where are you taking them? How would you get them through the Taliban checkpoints? What kind of diplomatic paperwork do you have? These are all questions that would have been asked — some of them asked, but really kind of stopped at 'You don't have a clearance code? You don't have a tail number?' If you can't give us the clearance proof into Kabul, you don't really have a plane."
He concluded, "We would have loved to help them, I'm sure. I'm not making any of these decisions. ... As much compassion as I have for dogs, I love dogs, and it killed me yesterday to see those dogs on the tarmac, you know. The Nazarene Fund, we didn't come to you and ask to save a plane full of dogs. Now, if you could have had dogs in the aisle and people in the rest of the plane, I'm good with that. I'm totally good with that. Love to help them with that. But we never, ever said anything about giving them $600,000. We have had other, multiple non-profits who have been contacted already by this group who also have chosen not to fund this group for similar reasons. I don't know anything about them other than this tweet is a lie."
Beck tweeted the clip and captioned it, "Veteran Sheepdogs of America claimed @thenazarenefund 'committed $600,000 then decommitted helping get our flight off' in Afghanistan. I called those who spoke with them at The Nazarene Fund to get to the bottom of this. This is a LIE."
Beck's executive producer, Rikki Ratliff, also addressed the controversy on Twitter writing, "
@GPollowitz @glennbeck It's a defamatory lie. Glenn addressed on radio today. Look for tweet and https://t.co/wYq6TUzq8c write up soon.
— Reality Czar Rikki (@rikkiratliff) 1630426586.0
Blaze Media's Jessica O'Donnell added, "NO money was ever promised to @VetSheepdogsUS by Glenn Beck or orgs he is associated with. Vet Sheepdogs asked for money. GB org asked for proof of clearance to get in/out of airport in Kabul. Vet Sheepdogs did not/could not provide it. That's where it ended."
She later tweeted, "Reminder: @glennbeck spent days in the Middle East last week after raising $28 million dollars to safely evacuate thousands of people from Afghanistan. If you're looking for someone to be angry at for not doing enough, Glenn should be the last guy on your list."
NO money was ever promised to @VetSheepdogsUS by Glenn Beck or orgs he is associated with. Vet Sheepdogs asked for… https://t.co/7mteLlJvei
— Jessica O’Boy-Football-is-Back-Donnell (@heckyessica) 1630424638.0
@VetSheepdogsUS Reminder: @glennbeck spent days in the Middle East last week after raising $28 million dollars to s… https://t.co/FEY1KfKdmW
— Jessica O’Boy-Football-is-Back-Donnell (@heckyessica) 1630425046.0
WATCH: Glenn Beck in Middle East: ‘Biden Admin Lying to Us’ on Afghanistan Evacuation
From an undisclosed location in a country near Afghanistan, Glenn Beck details the latest on the frantic evacuation efforts of American citizens, allies, and persecuted Christians as the Biden administration's failures have left him thinking, "I've never been embarrassed to be an American before."
Glenn interviews former Force Recon Marine, Chad Robichaux, whose Mighty Oaks Foundation has rescued over 2,000 people in just a few days.
David Barton, board member for The Nazarene Fund, joins Glenn on the ground with a prediction: The U.S. State Department "clowns" will be humiliated by private sector efforts by this time tomorrow. And he also says there is evidence of malicious intent from a few members in the State Department.
Jason Buttrill, Afghanistan war veteran and head researcher for Glenn Beck, joins on the ground to give the latest intelligence update he received from sources at the Kabul airport gates. And he explains why this has led him to predict that a gigantic hostage situation with the Taliban could soon unfold. Glenn and Jason also reveal the dangerous extraction process for locals in Afghanistan.
Watch the full episode of "Glenn TV" below:
Want more from Glenn Beck?
To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.
Glenn Beck's audience raises staggering $22 million in 2 days to rescue Christians trapped in Afghanistan
Glenn Beck's audience has raised $22 million — and counting — in two days to benefit the Beck-founded Nazarene Fund, which tirelessly works to rescue Christians and other religious minorities from persecution and slavery in the Middle East and across the globe.
What are the details?
Blaze Media previously reported that the Nazarene Fund is gearing up to extract approximately 5,000 people — mainly women and children — from Afghanistan as the newly Taliban-controlled country descends into violence and chaos.
During Beck's Wednesday morning radio show, the conservative firebrand and humanitarian urged his listeners to "give until it hurts" — and his loyal audience delivered beyond belief: Beck's audience donated even more than the $20 million goal by early Friday morning.
On Wednesday, Beck pleaded, "Every single penny that you can come up with will go to flying those planes and getting those people out. We need, obviously, an enormous amount of money. These are people that are marked for death for what they believe in. This is why we started the Nazarene Fund. Don't wait around for anyone else to do it. Don't wait around. Please, go to theNazareneFund.org and donate. ... We need your help as soon as possible. I ask that you would give until it hurts today, because these people are entirely alone. And they will be crucified, if you are marked as a Christian, with the Taliban. You know what will happen to them. We can get them out. Be an Oskar Schindler today. Go to theNazareneFund.org."
In the first day, the fund raked in nearly $10 million, prompting an emotional Beck to shower his listeners with gratitude.
"I asked you yesterday if you would give until it hurts. And this is the most remarkable audience I think ever assembled," an overwhelmed Beck announced Thursday. "In a 24-hour period ... this audience gave $9,334,652.24. We are halfway there in one day. It is truly a miracle that you, this one audience, gave nearly $10 million yesterday. I have always said that this audience is going to be the one that saves the country. You might be the one that saves the world."
He continued, "I asked you to help me raise $20 million by Friday so I could secure the aircraft, and the helicopters, and the teams to be able to get 5,000 Christians that are marked for death [out of Afghanistan]. And yesterday, there was a notice from the Taliban that any of these [Christian] people will be burned alive. In less than 24 hours, you gave $9,334,652.24. This is the framework of hope. You are not alone! It is not just you. I've never seen anything like this before. I don't think any one audience has ever done that!"
"I have until tomorrow to raise the second half," the longtime broadcaster added. "You've given so much. The Nazarene Fund has put boots on the ground to do what needs to be done, to save the thousands of Christians who are in grave danger. We have the helicopters and the planes standing by. This is a logistical nightmare ... but they are marked for death. So as long as we have the money, as long as our Marines can hold the airports, and as long as there is a Christian left in hiding, we will do what we need to do. But we need God's help. We need Divine Providence like we've never needed it before. Time is running out. People are clinging to the hope that someone will remember them and arise and save them from the blackness that is the Taliban."
By the end of Beck's Thursday radio program, the ever-growing total reached $13 million, and by Friday morning, the donations exceeded $20 million.
On Friday, Beck tweeted, "I'm BLOWN AWAY by what this audience has done to help rescue persecuted Christians in Afghanistan! OVER $20 MILLION raised in less than 3 days! THANK YOU!"
You can continue to make donations to the Nazarene Fund here.
Give to Afghanistan Until It HURTS: '30 Minutes That'll Change Your Life' Part 3www.youtube.com
'It is truly a MIRACLE': Glenn Beck's audience raises astonishing $10 MILLION for Afghanistan in ONE day
Chief Operating Officer of the Nazarene Fund, Rudy Atlallah, joined Glenn Beck in the radio program to detail a dangerous mission his team is about to attempt in order to save the lives of thousands of Christians hiding and trapped in Afghanistan.
Since December 2015, the Nazarene Fund has worked to rescue Christians and other religious minorities from persecution and slavery in the Middle East. Now, as the world the Taliban's violent takeover in Afghanistan, the nonprofit is gearing up to extract approximately 5,000 people, mostly women and children, out of Afghanistan before it is too late. But they need our help.
On Wednesday morning, Glenn urged his audience to "give until it hurts," setting the nearly "impossible" goal of raising $20 million by Friday.
"Every single penny that you can come up with will go to flying those planes and getting those people out. We need, obviously, an enormous amount of money," Glenn said. "These are people that are marked for death for what they believe in. This is why we started the Nazarene Fund. Don't wait around for anyone else to do it. Don't wait around. Please, go to TheNazareneFund.org and donate. ... We need your help as soon as possible. I ask that you would give until it hurts today, because these people are entirely alone. And they will be crucified, if you are marked as a Christian, with the Taliban. You know what will happen to them. We can get them out. Be an Oskar Schindler today. Go to the NazareneFund.org."
By Thursday morning, thanks to this incredible audience, the Nazarene Fund was nearly halfway to achieving this "miracle."
"I asked you yesterday, if you would give until it hurts. And this is the most remarkable audience I think ever assembled," Glenn said. "In a 24-hour period ... this audience gave $9,334,652.24. We are halfway there in one day. It is truly a miracle that you, this one audience, gave nearly $10 million yesterday. I have always said that this audience is going to be the one that saves the country. You might be the one that saves the world," said an emotional Glenn on Wednesday's radio program."
"I asked you to help me raise $20 million by Friday so I could secure the aircraft, and the helicopters, and the teams to be able to get 5,000 Christians that are marked for death [out of Afghanistan.] And yesterday, there was a notice from the Taliban that any of these [Christian] people will be burned alive. In less than 24 hours, you gave $9,334,652.24," he continued. "This is the framework of hope. You are not alone! It is not just you. I've never seen anything like this before. I don't think any one audience has ever done that!"
"I have until tomorrow to raise the second half," he added. "You've given so much. The Nazarene Fund has put boots on the ground to do what needs to be done, to save the thousands of Christians who are in grave danger. We have the helicopters and the planes standing by. This is a logistical nightmare ... but they are marked for death. So as long as we have the money, as long as our Marines can hold the airports, and as long as there is a Christian left in hiding, we will do what we need to do. But we need God's help. We need Divine Providence like we've never needed it before. Time is running out. People are clinging to the hope that someone will remember them and arise, and save them from the blackness that is the Taliban."
UPDATE: By the end of the radio program Thursday, donations to the Nazarene Fund had reached $13 million.
Watch the video clip below for more details:
Want more from Glenn Beck?
To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.
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Mission #1 in Afghanistan: Get the People Out of Harm’s Way | Stu Does America