A new “Believers for Trump” coalition of church congregations aims to boost support among people of faith for former President Donald Trump, and the group’s companion “Believers and Ballots” program will focus on registering voters and making sure they cast ballots.
The former president announced those initiatives at a Christian conference on July 26 at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida.
The Florida conference marked the first time that former President Trump has appeared in public without a bandage covering his gunshot wound. “I just took off the last bandage off of my ear,” he told the audience, adding that he was going to “talk about religion a little more than usual.”
“I don’t want to scold you,” the former president told the Christian gathering. But, he said, Christians often fail to exercise their “tremendous power” as a voting bloc.
“You can now vote in church,” he said, noting that North Carolina launches the nation’s early-voting season on Sept. 6. He most recently visited that state on July 24, drawing a capacity crowd of about 11,000 people to the Bojangles Coliseum there.
Attendance estimates for the Florida event, which was organized by Turning Point USA Faith and Turning Point Action, were not available.
Christians, Non-Christians Voted Differently
In the 2020 election between President Trump and candidate Joe Biden, “Americans’ religious identities were clearly related to their vote,” Gallup polls noted.White evangelical Christians made up about one-fourth of the electorate, “and they voted overwhelmingly for Trump,” Gallup said. About 65 percent of people who had no religious identity voted for Mr. Biden, who also enjoyed strong support from “almost all non-Christian groups.”
Now, the former president is urging his Christian audience like those at the summit: “You gotta vote.”
Turnout needs to be so large that it would overcome any possible irregularities, he said, joining the crowd in chanting, “Too big to rig!”
The audience also chanted, “Fight! Fight! Fight!” with raised fists, repeating what former President Trump said and did when he rose to his feet after being shot.
Noting that opponents have accused him of being a “threat to democracy,” the former president said, “I took a bullet for democracy!”
‘Anti-Christian Bias’ a Concern
He promised the audience he would safeguard religious rights, noting that government officials restricted church services during the COVID-19 pandemic—a violation of constitutional rights, he said.Upon winning reelection, the former president said he would create a new federal task force to combat “anti-Christian bias.”
Reverend Offers Admonishment
Former President Trump, known for his frank and sometimes-colorful language, enjoyed a lighthearted moment with the audience when he admitted that he doesn’t always adhere to religious leaders’ admonishments.The Rev. Franklin Graham had implored him in a note: “please don’t use foul language,” the former president said. The audience applauded, and he continued: “I tried it for a couple of nights, actually ... it didn’t work out so well.”
“I use a politically correct word,” he said, “and the whole thing just falls flat.”
The audience chuckled along with former President Trump, who said, with playful exasperation: “I’m trying, Franklin!”
The former president said that although he loves Christians and is one himself, he believes in standing up for religious liberty for other faiths, including Judaism.
Earlier in the day, he met at his Mar-a-Lago, Florida, home with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—leader of the Jewish state.
Faith Foundation of America
He also reflected on the importance of faith in the United States, saying the nation was “built and sustained by Americans of faith.”“It was faith that led the pilgrims to cross an ocean and settle this majestic continent. It was belief in our Creator that led the patriots to defend their liberties in the War for Independence,” he said.
Then, “faith in America’s God-given destiny” inspired pioneers to journey to the West, he said.
“And it was trusting God that led generations of American believers to end slavery, defeat fascism and communism, and make this into the greatest and most exceptional nation in the history of the world,” the former president said.
‘Common Sense’ Needed
Former President Trump vowed to “restore common sense to Washington, D.C.” That includes halting policies that would “let men into women’s and girls’ locker rooms,” and keeping men out of women’s sports.The former president pledges to stand up for parental rights and oppose policies that allow minors “to change their gender without parental consent.”
The 45th president reminded people that, if he becomes the 47th president, he would sign an executive order to “cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory, transgender insanity and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content onto the lives of our children.”
That promise, which he has repeated often throughout the 2024 campaign, drew a sustained round of applause and chants of “Save Our Kids!”
He also made an appearance at a campaign stop in St. Cloud, Minnesota, with his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio).
On July 30, Mr. Vance is scheduled for two rallies in Nevada—Henderson and Reno.
The former president will hold a solo rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on July 31, while Mr. Vance heads to Glendale, Arizona.
