White Guilt Called a “Mind Virus” in Viral William Wolfe X Post
Wolfe executive director of the Center for Baptist Leadership (CBL) and a former Trump administration official recently described “white guilt” as a “mind virus” capable of dismantling Western civilization. The statement, shared on December 31, 2025, aligns with long-standing conservative critiques of identity politics. Moreover, it draws heavily on arguments advanced by Shelby Steele in his 2006 book White Guilt: How Blacks and Whites Together Destroyed the Promise of the Civil Rights Era [1].
Wolfe holds a Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Previously, he served in both the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Defense during the Trump administration. As a result, he has emerged as a prominent opponent of progressive influence within evangelical circles [2]. His X bio highlights experience as a Capitol Hill staffer and an affiliate of Heritage Action. Additionally, it notes that he founded CBL in 2024 to push the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) toward a more conservative direction amid internal disputes [3].
CBL presents itself as a counterweight to what it calls “woke” ideology within religious institutions. In doing so, the organization openly blends theological messaging with political advocacy [4].
In the viral post, Wolfe wrote:
“White Guilt has been one of the most destructive forces of the 21st century to date. If Western Civilization falls in our lifetime, it will be because we allowed this mind virus to destroy us.” [5]
Shortly afterward, Wolfe expanded the argument. In a follow-up post, he explicitly linked white guilt to Christianity and urged donations to CBL. According to him, such funding would help “drive the poison of ‘white guilt’ out of the American church.” He also claimed that Christians are often the “worst offenders” in sustaining the ideology [6].
Notably, this rhetoric echoes Wolfe’s earlier remarks. In September 2025, he criticized evangelical leaders for promoting “social justice” narratives. He further accused them of excusing “black criminality” by shifting blame onto white Americans [7].
Wolfe’s language closely mirrors Shelby Steele’s central thesis. Steele argues that post–civil rights–era white guilt eroded moral authority. Consequently, it encouraged dissociation rather than responsibility and stalled genuine progress. In Steele’s view, the shift from equality-based ideals to power-centered racial dynamics allowed guilt to be weaponized while accountability diminished [8].
In a 2006 NPR interview, Steele clarified this point further. He stated that white guilt stems from the “terror of being seen as racist.” As a result, it often produces patronizing policies instead of empowering solutions [9]. More recently, a 2023 analysis by Christ Overall reaffirmed the relevance of Steele’s framework within contemporary shame-based racial discourse [10].
Wolfe has repeatedly referenced Steele’s ideas. For instance, on December 10, 2025, he wrote:
“Christianity and the Bible completely reject the idea of ‘White guilt.’” [11]
These themes frequently appear on the CBL podcast. The program examines faith, politics, and the future of the SBC. It has also featured guests such as Megan Basham [12].
Predictably, the post triggered polarized reactions on X. Overall, the responses reflected deep divisions over race and identity in the United States.
Supporters quickly expressed approval. One user, @Pro__Trading, wrote:
“I’ve never felt guilty for being white. I will never apologize for being white… I’m PROUD to be white.” [13]
Similarly, @NSunderarockNJ framed white guilt as manipulation, stating:
“To the fools that think white guilt is justified, you are a useful idiot playing into the puppet master’s hands.” [14]
In addition, semantic searches related to debates on white guilt in American politics and religion surfaced similar claims. Many linked the concept to Marxist ideology or framed it as Christian self-flagellation [15][16].
Public figures also amplified the message. Filmmaker Eli Steele characterized white guilt as an unresolved “monster” originating in the 1960s. According to him, it reinforces rigid oppressor–oppressed frameworks [17]. Likewise, Elon Musk echoed the sentiment on December 9, 2025, posting “No more White guilt” in response to discussions about Gen Z rejecting inherited historical shame [18].
However, critics pushed back forcefully. @spencergwatson argued:
“It’s not about guilt… It’s about responsibility.” [19]
Meanwhile, Bishop Talbert Swan, an NAACP leader, emphasized systemic hypocrisy. In a June 2025 post, he argued that whiteness often functions as a “moral exemption,” shielding flawed individuals while minorities face harsher scrutiny [20]. Similarly, Pam Keith, Esq. pointed to unrepented historical injustices—such as slavery—within white evangelical communities as a source of ongoing tension [21].
More broadly, critics argue that white guilt is unproductive. They contend that it recenters whiteness and reduces racial justice to symbolic gestures rather than material reform [22]. In contrast, conservatives maintain that the concept infantilizes minorities and undermines merit-based systems [23]. Some commentators also draw parallels between white guilt and Christianity’s doctrine of original sin, reframed within post-Christian “woke” narratives [24].
Within Baptist circles, Wolfe’s leadership has not gone unchallenged. A July 2025 discussion described CBL as a politically motivated effort to push the SBC further to the right [25]. Additionally, Baptist News Global reported in March 2024 that CBL leverages Wolfe’s Trump-era connections to expand its reach [26].
In a 2025 interview, Wolfe addressed these criticisms directly. He argued that integrating faith and politics is necessary to counter progressive ideological shifts within religious institutions [27].
Ultimately, as the United States navigates post-2024 election identity politics, Wolfe’s viral post highlights persistent national fractures. Supporters view it as liberation from self-destructive narratives. Critics, however, see it as an evasion of historical responsibility. Combined with CBL’s fundraising appeals, the controversy underscores how religious institutions remain key battlegrounds in America’s ongoing culture wars.
Sources
[1] White Guilt (book) – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Guilt_(book)
[2] Our Team – Center for Baptist Leadership
https://centerforbaptistleadership.org/our-team/
[3] William Wolfe Archives – Founders Ministries
https://founders.org/author-name/william-wolfe/
[4] Yet Another Group Forms to Turn the SBC in a More Conservative Direction – Baptist News Global
https://baptistnews.com/article/yet-another-group-forms-to-turn-the-sbc-in-a-more-conservative-direction/
[5] William Wolfe Original X Post (Dec 31, 2025)
https://x.com/WilliamWolfe/status/2006204223600386145
[6] William Wolfe Follow-up X Post
https://x.com/WilliamWolfe/status/2006556942655959234
[7] William Wolfe X Thread (Contextual reference via semantic search)
https://x.com/WilliamWolfe/status/2006204223600386145
[8] White Guilt – Summary and Study Guide – SuperSummary
https://www.supersummary.com/white-guilt/summary/
[9] “White Guilt” and the End of the Civil Rights Era – NPR (2006)
https://www.npr.org/2006/05/05/5385701/white-guilt-and-the-end-of-the-civil-rights-era
[10] Christ Overall (2023), Shelby Steele and Avoiding Shame in the Age of White Guilt
https://christoverall.com/article/concise/shelby-steele-and-avoiding-shame-in-the-age-of-white-guilt/
[11] Eli Steele X Post (Contextual reference)
https://x.com/Hebro_Steele/status/1998772389979865194
[12] TS&TT: William Wolfe | The Need for Biblical Leadership in the SBC – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdEWDJTeAmc
[13] @Pro__Trading X Reply
https://x.com/Pro__Trading/status/2006587323623116823
[14] @NSunderarockNJ X Reply
https://x.com/NSunderarockNJ/status/2006570709745807601
[15] @PlectusSolaris X Post
https://x.com/PlectusSolaris/status/1956303668980097051
[16] @IcebearAngry (Denken) X Post
https://x.com/IcebearAngry/status/2005285568310304862
[17] Eli Steele X Post on White Guilt
https://x.com/Hebro_Steele/status/1947800207128989790
[18] Elon Musk X Post – “No more White guilt”
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1998489428881219937
[19] @spencergwatson X Post
https://x.com/spencergwatson/status/2006062953062359455
[20] Bishop Talbert Swan X Post
https://x.com/TalbertSwan/status/1938561149072466028
[21] Pam Keith, Esq. X Post
https://x.com/PamKeithFL/status/1844717256783110355
[22] “White guilt” won’t change anything – ABC Religion & Ethics
https://www.abc.net.au/religion/white-guilt-will-not-change-anything/12628630
[23] Conservative White Guilt – The American Prospect
https://prospect.org/2010/01/25/conservative-white-guilt/
[24] @CharIemagn3 X Post (Ideological framing reference)
https://x.com/CharIemagn3/status/2005181430947557684
[25] Facebook Group Discussion on Center for Baptist Leadership
https://www.facebook.com/groups/238862961112668/posts/1238521301146824/
[26] Yet Another Group Forms to Turn the SBC in a More Conservative Direction – Baptist News Global
https://baptistnews.com/article/yet-another-group-forms-to-turn-the-sbc-in-a-more-conservative-direction/
[27] Faith, Politics and Southern Baptists | William Wolfe – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0z76RYnu44
