In Nashville, Tennessee, Former President Donald Trump pledged to uphold Christian principles if re-elected, hinting at protecting the religion’s symbols, cautioning a gathering of religious broadcasters that the political left aims to “dismantle crosses.”
“Remember, every communist regime throughout history has tried to stamp out the churches, just like every fascist regime has tried to co-opt them and control them. And, in America, the radical left is trying to do both,” Trump told hundreds of cheering attendees at the National Religious Broadcasters International Christian Media Convention in Nashville.
“They want to tear down crosses where they can, and cover them up with social justice flags,” Trump added. “But no one will be touching the cross of Christ under the Trump administration, I swear to you.”
Vowing to safeguard the Christian symbol is reminiscent of Trump’s recent assurance to the National Rifle Association that “No one will lay a finger on your firearms.” As leading conservatives urge Trump to openly center his second term around Christian values, should he be re-elected, he is currently the favored candidate in a Republican primary where the once crowded field has narrowed to him and his former ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley.
The Christian media gathering, where sponsors distributed free red and white baseball caps bearing the slogan “Make America Pray Again,” was overwhelmingly supportive of the former president, with his speech often resembling a rally rather than a conventional convention address.
“The left is trying to shame Christians,” Trump said. “They’re trying to shame us. I’m a very proud Christian.”
Trump continuously roused the audience and frequently lauded his stance on abortion, highlighting his appointment of three conservative Supreme Court justices who played a part in overturning the Roe v. Wade ruling. However, he noticeably omitted any mention of the Alabama Supreme Court decision, which has led providers in the state to halt in vitro fertilization treatments following a ruling that frozen embryos could be legally considered children.
The reelection campaign for President Joe Biden issued a statement on the matter late Thursday, which was blank, ironically highlighting Trump’s lack of response to the “Alabama IVF ruling he is accountable for.”
In his speech, Trump chose to emphasize that during his first term, he had accomplished “more to defend religious freedom than any other administration in history.”
“The enthusiasm for this election coming up in November is far greater than it was in 2016 or 2020,” he said. “Far greater, it’s not even a contest.”
Tennessee will host its primary on Super Tuesday, March 5, when several states nationwide will cast their votes, possibly propelling Trump to the brink of clinching the Republican nomination.
While some religious leaders were initially hesitant to support Trump in his 2016 presidential bid due to his multiple divorces, they are now among his most steadfast and loyal “Make America Great Again” supporters.
This loyalty persists despite Trump’s increasingly tarnished personal history, which includes his indictment in New York in connection with hush money payments made to a porn actress in an effort to conceal an extramarital affair.
“When he came onto the scene, people were skeptical,” said Troy Miller, president and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters. “But I think, as they’ve learned more and listened to Donald Trump speak, the one thing I hear all the time from people … is that they really feel like Donald Trump understands them and that’s the biggest connection that people make is, ‘This is a guy in politics who gets us, who understands us, who doesn’t talk like he’s an elitist and talk down to us.’”
