trump evangelical meeting transcript

7/25/2019 Trump Evangelical Meeting Transcript

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Transcript: Donald Trumpsclosed-door meeting with

evangelical leadersJon WardSenior Political Correspondent

June 22, 2016

Editors note: Donald Trump met with several hundred evangelical

leaders in New York City on Tuesday to win over a voting bloc that is

leaning toward him but not embracing the presumptive Republican

nominee for president. Many conservative white evangelicals will never

vote for presumptive Democratic nominee illary Clinton but are unsure

they would go beyond voting for Trump to working on his behalf and

getting others to support him.

Trump spent more than an hour taking !uestions from former "rkansas

#ov. Mike uckabee$ one of his van!uished rivals in the #%& primary$

and other well'known conservative evangelical (gures like )ames

Dobson$ founder of *ocus on the *amily. +ome speakers encouraged the

crowd to support Trump$ while acknowledging that doing so might be

di,cult for many of them. -e doesnt e/pect you to agree with him onevery issue or to endorse or condone his style of leadership$0 said )erry

*alwell )r.$ president of 1iberty 2niversity$ who was one of the (rst

nationally known evangelical Christians to endorse Trump.

Reporters were not allowed into this event$ but audio recordings of the

proceedings were given to Yahoo News by multiple attendees. The

following is a rough transcript of the event$ lightly edited for clarity. 3t

picks up during an unknown mans introductory remarks.

Unidentifed: As I sat there this morning we just spent time with Dr.

Carson and the next president of the nited !tates, Dona"d #rump I

thought a$out two %i$"e &erses. And I'm going to paraphrase just a $it.

(ne is, )*or su+h a time as this, and the other one is this one, a

+ommandment from our !a&ior, when he said, )Ca"" unto me, and I wi""

do great and might- things that -ou do not now. #hin a$out that.
http://jonwardeleven.tumblr.com/http://jonwardeleven.tumblr.com/


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)Ca"" unto me, and I wi"" do great and might- things that -ou do not

now.

I ha&e nown Dona"d #rump sin+e a$out 2 1/2 months $efore %arron was

$orn. I now his fami"-. I re+ent"- put out an arti+"e a+ross the +ountr-,

to"d the agri+u"ture and ran+her +ommunit- that I $e"ie&e Ameri+a needs

a +hief exe+uti&e o+er in the hite ouse. 3"pplause.4 I thin that to

win this e"e+tion, on the 5epu$"i+an side, we ha&e to thin out of the $ox.

And we ha&e to $e strategi+. And we ha&e to pra- "ie it a"" depends

upon od and wor "ie it a"" depends upon us.

It is an honor for me to introdu+e to -ou someone who is a great, great

friend to a"" of us. 7adies and gent"emen, Dr. %en Carson. 3"pplause4

en Carson:#han -ou. And than a"" of -ou for +oming out, a"tering

-our s+hedu"es, and ha&ing faith that this wou"d $e a good in&estment of

-our time. 8ou now, Ameri+a is su+h an in+redi$"e p"a+e. It's $een su+h

an in+redi$"e p"a+e for me, +oming $orn to po&ert-. 9- main goa" was to

$e+ome midd"e +"ass. I'd thin, wow, if I +ou"d just $e midd"e +"ass, that

wou"d $e so +oo". #his is a p"a+e that a""ows -ou, no matter where -ou

+ame from, if -ou're wi""ing to wor hard and p"a- $- the ru"es, to de:ne

-our own destin-. And that's so important for us to mae sure it sta-s

that wa-. 8ou now, this e"e+tion that's +oming up, this is a$out Ameri+a

and a$out what Ameri+a represents. #his is what we ha&e got to get

peop"e to understand. #here are so man- peop"e who sa-, )I don't "ie

Dona"d #rump or )I don't "ie i""ar- C"inton or )I don't "ie whoe&er.

%ut it's not a$out Dona"d #rump or i""ar- C"inton. #his is a$out whether

this wi"" $e a nation that is of, for and $- the peop"e not of, for and $-

the go&ernment.

8ou now, we a"" thin that we ha&e the spe+ia" word from od. %ut the

fa+t of the matter is, this is "ie a +hess mat+h, and od is the great

grand master. e're the spe+tators. e a"" thin, it's time for him to

+an+e" right now, or to tae that $ishop with that roo, or to use that

night. %ut sometimes he uses a pawn, sometimes he does things in a

wa- that is not &er- apparent to us. And that's where faith +omes in.

%e+ause od sets up the ru"ers, and he taes them down. e just need

to $e wi""ing to understand that, $e+ause -ou "oo, for instan+e, in the


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+ase of Dona"d #rump. Just as an examp"e. I'"" pi+ him out of the air.

31aughter4

ere's a person who, it seemed "ie e&er- wee, the pundits were

sa-ing, )#hat's it he'"" ne&er re+o&er from that. It's a"" o&er. And then

he'd go up in the po""s. hat that sa-s to me is that od has something

to do with what is going on right now. #he wee $efore "ast, I was on C;;

with Jae #apper, and he was sa-ing, )8ou now, e&en 3radio host4 ugh

ewitt is sa-ing that Dona"d #rump is a terri$"e +andidate and he +an't

win. And he's not a Demo+rat. e's one of -ou gu-s. And I said, )Is he a

punditerent issues ? #hrough the

@uestions, he wi"" ha&e an opportunit- to hear -our heart, and he heard

se&era" di>erent "eaders this morning ta" a$out what's on their heart.

e need to just eep in mind that i""ar- C"inton, when she was in

+o""ege, was on a :rstname $asis with !au" A"ins-, who was her hero.

!au" A"ins-, who wrote the $oo Rules for Radicals. If -ou ha&en't read

it, p"ease read it. 8ou need to now who -ou're dea"ing with. And on the

dedi+ation page, guess who it a+now"edges< 7u+ifer, who ga&e his own

ingdom as a radi+a". 3Moans from the audience4

#his is who we are dea"ing with, "adies and gent"emen. 8ou now, the

ship is a$out to sai" o> ;iagara *a""s, fu"" of passengers and e&er-$od-'s

a$out to $e i""ed. 8ou now what we ha&e to do< e ha&e to stop the

ship num$er one. ;um$er two, we ha&e to turn it around. And num$er

three, we ha&e to sai" in the other dire+tion. #here are a "ot of peop"e

who thin -ou +an do a"" of that at the same time. 8ou +annot. *irst, "et's

stop the ship. 7et's do that this fa"" in massi&e num$ers. e +an then

turn it around. e +an then sai" it in the other dire+tion. I'm not going to

te"" -ou who -ou shou"d &ote for. I'm just te""ing -ou to use -our $rain.

#here's a reason that od ga&e us these &er- sophisti+ated $rains, made

in is image. And it shou"d $e &er- apparent who is interested in


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re"igious "i$ert- and who is interested in taing those things awa- from

us. %ut we are the ones who mae the determination. It's time for us to

put the stae in the ground, and not sit down and shut up "ie the- want

us to do. %ut to stand up for our faith. #han -ou. 3"pplause4

#o get us started, I want to introdu+e a good friend, a wonderfu"

indi&idua" who -ou a"" now. e met de+ades ago and ha&e had the

p"easure Cand- and I of a+tua""- $eing =own $- him in an airp"ane.

e's a pi"ot as we"" as a great e&ange"ist. e's a person of strong

+on&i+tion who does not $e"ie&e in po"iti+a" +orre+tness, whi+h maes

him a hero in m- $oo. 7adies and gent"emen, p"ease we"+ome Dr.

*ran"in raham.

!ran"lin #raham $president and C%& o' the ill( #raham

%vangelistic )ssociation*:#han -ou. It's $een m- pri&i"ege these "astfew months to tra&e" a+ross the +ountr-, to ho"d pra-er ra""ies at state

+apita"s, on their steps. hen we :rst pu""ed out permits, we pu""ed them

for B00 peop"e, $ut we had no +"ue how man- wou"d +ome. #housands

and thousands gathered, in the +o"d in some p"a+es, ear"- in the -ear in

snow, in rain. e had thousands +ome to pra-. ;ot to hear me, $ut

the-'d +ome to pra- $e+ause the- now our +ountr- is in trou$"e. And

"adies and gent"emen, I don't need to +on&in+e -ou of that -ou now

that. And as we "oo at who is to $e the next president of the nited

!tates, man- peop"e are "ooing at @ua"ities. And I'd "ie to tae just a

moment to "oo at the %i$"e.

!ome of the indi&idua"s are our patriar+hs A$raham great man of

faith. %ut he "ied. 9oses "ed his peop"e out of $ondage, $ut he diso$e-ed

od. Da&id +ommitted adu"ter- and then he +ommitted murder. #he

Apost"es turned their $a+ on the 7ord Jesus Christ in his greatest hour of

need, the- turned their $a+s and the- ran. eter denied him three

times. A"" of this to sa-, there is none of us is perfe+t. e're a"" gui"t- of

sin. *ran"in raham stands here in front of -ou toda- as a sinner. %ut

I'&e $een forgi&en $- od's gra+e. e forga&e me. I in&ited Christ to

+ome into m- heart and m- "ife. e forga&e me. #here's no perfe+t

person there's on"- one, and that's the 7ord Jesus Christ. And he's not

running for president of the nited !tates. #his -ear.


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!o I wou"d just "ie to open up with a word of pra-er. (ur ea&en"-

*ather, we than -ou that -ou "o&e us. #han -ou for sending -our son

Jesus Christ from hea&en to this earth to sa&e us. #o sa&e us from our

sins. #han -ou that he too our sins to that +ross, that -ou raised him to

"ife, than -ou, *ather. And, *ather as we "oo at this nation, as we

"oo at the trou$"e that we're in *ather, we re+ogniEe as a peop"e that

we ha&e fai"ed. e ha&e sinned. And we as for -our forgi&eness, *ather.

And, *ather, we pra- this e"e+tion that -ou wi"" gi&e a man to $e the

president of this +ountr- who wi"" honor "ife, who wi"" respe+t our

Constitution, who wi"" respe+t the authorit- of the o+e. And, *ather, we

pra- that -our wi"" wi"" $e done. And, *ather, we as now that -ou wou"d

$"ess this meeting and this time together, as 9r. #rump is a$"e to answer

@uestions. And, *ather, we pra- that ea+h one here toda- wi"" "ea&e thisroom with a new appre+iation of this man and this fami"-. !o, *ather, we

than -ou. And in Jesus' name, we pra-. Amen.

I wou"d "ie to introdu+e now a &er- good friend of mine. Jerr- *a"we"" Jr.,

who doesn't need an introdu+tion. e has one of the great uni&ersities,

that his father started, that he has taen it to a who"e new "e&e". 9-

three sons found their wi&es at 7i$ert- ni&ersit-, and so I owe a great

de$t to Jerr-'s dadd-, who is now in hea&en and I'm sure he's wat+hing

us toda-. %ut he is a great friend, and I ha&e a "ot of respe+t for Jerr-

*a"we"" Jr. Jerr-, +ome.

Jerr( !alwell Jr+ $president o' ,iert( Universit(*: *ran"in

mentioned that his three sons +ame to 7i$ert-. e didn't mention that

the -oungest of the three spent more time out at our farm than he did

stud-ing. I wrote man- notes for him, ex+using him for not $eing read-

for a test. %ut he made it through, and we "o&e the who"e *ran"in

raham fami"-.

%ut :rst, I want to get o&. 9ie u+a$ee to +ome out and sit on the

p"atform, get read-. e's going to $e the moderator this morning.

3"pplause4 o&. u+a$ee was te""ing us at dinner "ast night how in

1FGF, 5ona"d 5eagan addressed a group just "ie this, and he to"d the

group, )I understand that the ru"es in man- +ases don't a""ow -ou to

endorse me, $ut I'm here to endorse -ou and what -ou $e"ie&e. #hat

+hanged the tide of that e"e+tion, and I see some fo"s with gra- hair


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nodding who remem$er that. It was great to $e reminded of that "ast

night $- the go&ernor. It's m- distin+t honor and pri&i"ege to we"+ome a

man who I'&e introdu+ed twi+e at 7i$ert- ni&ersit-. And o&er the "ast

four -ears, m- wife and I ha&e remained in +"ose +onta+t with 9r. #rump.

As our friendship has grown, so has m- admiration for 9r. #rump. As -ou

now, 7i$ert- ni&ersit- does not support or oppose +andidates for

pu$"i+ o+e a "aw-er maes me sa- that $ut I persona""- fee"

strong"- that Dona"d #rump is od's man to "ead our nation at this +ru+ia"

+rossroads in our +ountr-'s histor-. 3"pplause4

9an- of -ou new m- father we"". e "o&ed od, "o&ed his +ountr-. e

was +riti+iEed in the ear"- 1FH0s for supporting 5ona"d 5eagan o&er

Jimm- Carter $e+ause 5eagan was a o""-wood a+tor who had $een

married and di&or+ed and remarried. Jimm- Carter was a !outhern%aptist !unda- s+hoo" tea+her. e "ater was +riti+iEed for supporting

eorge %ush !r. o&er his good friend the 5e&. at 5o$ertson. %ut he

proud"- rep"ied to those +riti+isms that when Jesus said render unto

Caesar the things that are Caesar's, that meant we are to $e good

+itiEens, &oting, a+ti&e in the po"iti+a" pro+ess, ser&ing in our armed

for+es, if ne+essar-. And whi"e Jesus ne&er to"d us how to &ote, he ga&e

us a"" the good +ommon sense to +hoose the $est "eaders. !unda- was

*ather's Da-. 9- fami"- made it a &er- spe+ia" da- for me. It reminded

me of some of the things m- father said that seem parti+u"ar"- re"e&ant

toda-. In 2006, when there was :rst ta" of i""ar- C"inton running for

president, he said, )I hope i""aris the +andidate $e+ause nothing wi""

energiEe m- +onstituen+- "ie i""ar- C"inton. e said, )If 7u+ifer himse"f

ran, that wou"dn't wor as we"".

is "ast nationa" inter&iew was with Christiane Amanpour of C;; just a

few da-s $efore his death in 200G, and in that inter&iew he joed that he

had dreamed re+ent"- that Che"sea C"inton had inter&iewed him and

ased him what are the three greatest threats fa+ing our nation. erep"ied, )(sama, ($ama, and -our mama. ;ow (sama's gone, ($ama's

on his wa- out, and we ha&e the +han+e to mae sure that Che"sea's

mama goes out of po"iti+s with them.

In the "ast presidentia" e"e+tion, there were 2B mi""ion Christians who

were registered $ut who didn't $other to show up at the po""s. e are the


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sing"e most in=uentia" &oting $"o+. 9- father's po"ariEing statements

made peop"e who didn't now him thin that he was tough and mean,

$ut he was an-thing $ut. eop"e who new him persona""- attested to

the fa+t that he he"ped peop"e in need. e +ou"dn't eep an- mone- in

his po+et $e+ause he ga&e it awa- to whoe&er needed some he"p. And

he ga&e awa- so man- s+ho"arships at 7i$ert- ni&ersit-, he near"-

$anrupted the s+hoo". %ut I'&e +ome to see man- of these same

@ua"ities in Dona"d #rump. I want to introdu+e -ou to the Dona"d #rump

that I now, to te"" -ou wh- I trust him. ;ot Dona"d #rump in the media,

or of his +riti+s. I'&e seen a man who honors his :du+iar- responsi$i"ities

through his +orporations. e maes tough de+isions to ensure his

$usinesses' su++ess. e speas the truth pu$"i+"- e&en if it is

un+omforta$"e for peop"e to hear. 8et he treats his friends, hisemp"o-ees, and peop"e in need with the greatest respe+t, "o-a"t- and

generosit-.

I ga&e man- examp"es of 9r. #rump's persona" generosit- when I

we"+omed him to 7i$ert- ni&ersit- ear"ier this -ear. 4cclesiastes

567sa-s that there is a time for war and a time for pea+e. ;ow it is, from

m- perspe+ti&e, the time for pea+e. #o me this e"e+tion is &er- simp"e.

e ha&e an e"e+tion $etween someone who promises he wi"" support

issues important to us as Christians, in+"uding appointing justi+es to the

!upreme Court who wou"d mae us a"" proud. #hat's Dona"d #rump. And

someone who promises she wi"" do just the opposite. #hat's i""ar-

C"inton. Dona"d #rump is a $reath of fresh air in a nation where the

po"iti+a" esta$"ishment of $oth parties has $etra-ed their +onstituen+ies

time and time again with $roen promises and a +ontinuation of the

status @uo. 9r. #rump is a $o"d and fear"ess "eader who wi"" tae the :ght

to our enemies, and to the radi+a" Is"ami+ terrorists, whether the- atta+

in !an %ernardino, (r"ando or aris. (r whether the- simp"- just stea"

Ameri+an jo$s through unfair trade pra+ti+es.#he da- after 5ona"d 5eagan $e+ame president, Iran re"eased Ameri+an

hostages that had $een he"d for da-s. In m- opinion, the da- after

#rump $e+omes president, e&er- terrorist in the wor"d wi"" +raw" under a

ro+ in simi"ar fashion. e is here $e+ause no "eader "eads a"one. e

wants to hear from -ou, from us, and he has $een a friend to this


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+ommunit-. e is and has $een a friend. e doesn't expe+t -ou to agree

with him on e&er- issue or to endorse or +ondone his st-"e of "eadership.

If we a"" wait for the perfe+t +andidate who has the demeanor of our

pastors and agrees with us on e&er- issue in+"uding our persona"

theo"ogi+a" $e"iefs then we ma- a"" sit at home on "e+tion Da- for the

rest of our "i&es. ow man- of -ou +an honest"- sa- that -ou agree with

-our spouse on e&er-thing< I now I +an't. Dona"d #rump shuns the

+ensorship that is rooted in po"iti+a" +orre+tness and speas the p"ain

+ommonsense truth that so man- ha&e $een "onging to hear. #he

mainstream press expe+ted this to end his +andida+- ear"- on, $ut it did

just the opposite. e soared in the po""s and now is the presumpti&e

5epu$"i+an nominee.

7i$ert- ni&ersit- is a uni@ue institution $e+ause un"ie most nonpro:tuni&ersities, we tr- to operate "ie a $usiness, emphasiEing e+ien+-,

treating students "ie +ustomers. As genera" +ounse" at 7i$ert- in m-

-ounger -ears, we fought to sur&i&e. I spent man- da-s negotiating with

+reditors and spent man- weeends with m- father, $egging and

$orrowing from "enders and donors to +o&er the pa-+he+s that we had

a"read- written on the *rida- $efore. %ut $- app"-ing +ommonsense

$usiness prin+ip"es with an entrepreneuria" spirit, we :na""- saw su++ess.

In just the "ast :&e -ears, 7i$ert- has $e+ome one of on"- a$out G0

uni&ersities in the +ountr- that are rated AA or AAA $- !tandard and

oors and 9ood-'s. The Chronicle of igher 4ducationin *e$ruar- of the

past -ear predi+ted that 7i$ert-'s $usiness mode" +ou"d $e+ome the

future of higher edu+ation. It was reported in the 5i+hmond #imes just

this wee that 7i$ert- has $u+ed the trend of di&estment in Israe" $-

man- major institutions $- doing just the opposite and in&esting man-

mi""ions of do""ars of our endowment in Israe".

Dona"d #rump is the on"- +andidate in this e"e+tion who has a+hie&ed

independent :nan+ia" su++ess. e's not a puppet on a string "ie theother +andidate, who has wea"th- donors some from +ountries who

oppress women and ga-s as her puppet masters. And that's a e-

reason wh- so man- &oters are attra+ted to him. Imagine how wonderfu"

it wou"d $e for on+e that the nited !tates of Ameri+a has as its

president a man who has $ui"t +ompanies from s+rat+h, who nows what


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it fee"s "ie to $e so"e"- responsi$"e for :nding the mone- ea+h wee to

+o&er pa-ro"", who runs the nation with the same entrepreneuria"

$usiness prin+ip"es that ha&e $rought su++ess to his own +ompanies. 8ou

now, our *ounding *athers en&isioned a nation go&erned $- +itiEen

"egis"ators, and I $e"ie&e the Ameri+an pu$"i+ is :na""- read- to e"e+t a

+andidate who is not a +areer po"iti+ian, $ut rather who has su++eeded in

"ife, in the rea" "ife, in the rea" wor"d. "ease we"+ome a man who I pra-

earnest"- wi"" $e the next president of the nited !tates, 9r. Dona"d J.

#rump. 3"pplause4

.i"e /uc"aee:9r. #rump, I want to $egin $- expressing appre+iation

to -ou for +oming and $eing wi""ing to sit at the assem$"- of some of the

great spiritua" "eaders and faith "eaders in Ameri+a. And I'm prett- sure

I'm right when I sa- that I don't thin i""aris gonna ha&e a meeting"ie this, where she's wi""ing to sit down with the faith +ommunit-,

answer @uestions, and spea from the heart to the peop"e of our +ountr-.

I want to sa-, on $eha"f of a"" these fo"s who are gathered, than -ou.

3"pplause4

Donald Trump:#his $egan as just a "itt"e e&ent. %en Carson +ame

up we "o&e %en. e'&e $e+ome rea""-, rea""- great friends. e said,

)ou"d it $e possi$"e< e ha&e some re"igious "eaders, we ha&e some

great e&ange"i+a"s, good Christians, and just a sma"" gathering. 9a-$e

100 peop"e. I :gured 1B20 minutes, ma-$e ha"f an hour to see them. I

said, )A$so"ute"-, %en. It'd $e m- honor. And this +ame out to $e o&er

1,000 peop"e. And -ou now what< #hat shows we a"" "o&e ea+h other,

and that's so important. %en is one of the greatest sa"esmen I'&e e&er

met. e said, )Do -ou thin -ou +an eep it going "onger than the time


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+ome to this room $e+ause the- want to $e $ehind some$od- who wi""

"ead this nation out of the a$-ss that we ha&e $een in for eight -ears.

e're gonna ha&e a num$er of @uestions from de"ightfu" indi&idua"s who

ha&e +arefu""- thought through the @uestions the- want to as. e're

going to get to as man- of them as we human"- +an. e'"" tr- to eep

the @uestions as short as possi$"e, and the answers $rief and to the

point, so that we +an get to e&er-$od-. %efore we go to the indi&idua"

@uestions, there's something that I want to sa- to -ou and as -ou to

respond to it. %e+ause it's something that I saw, in a wa- that most

peop"e wou"d not ha&e seen. %e+ause if the- weren't on the stage during

the presidentia" de$ates and a"so $a+stage, the- wou"d not ha&e seen

what I saw, what %en Carson saw.

#he re"ationship that -ou ha&e with -our fami"-, the re"ationship and$ond that -ou ha&e with -our adu"t +hi"dren, is one of the most

admira$"e I'&e e&er seen from an- father with +hi"dren. 3"pplause4

eop"e +an fae it onstage the- +an wa" out and do a happ- fami"-

moment $ut -ou +an't fae that $a+stage, o&er and o&er again. hat

I saw was rea". And it was one of the reasons that I ha&e had no

hesitation endorsing -ou, supporting -ou, and enthusiasti+a""-

en+ouraging peop"e to get $ehind -our +andida+-. e're going to ta"

a$out a "ot of issues. %ut I want -ou to $egin toda- $- expressing hat

is it a$out the re"ationship -ou ha&e with -our +hi"dren that is so spe+ia"erent wor"d, a di>erent

+ountr-. e're going to end up $eing a PeneEue"a if she gets in, for a "ot

of di>erent reasons. 8ou see what's going on in PeneEue"a right now,

where the-'re :ghting ea+h other, i""ing ea+h other o&er a "oaf of $read.

e are going to ha&e a "ot of pro$"ems in this +ountr-. !o I just thin it's

so important.

And, again, what I said in m- opening remars, ha&ing to do with the

Johnson Amendment, whate&er -ou want to +a"" it, e&er-$od- nows

exa+t"- what it is. A "ot of peop"e in the +hur+h don't "ie to ta" a$out it.

3#he Johnson Amendment prohi$ited po"iti+a" endorsements $- tax

exempt organiEations.4 I thin it ma- $e m- greatest +ontri$ution toChristianit- and other re"igions is to a""ow -ou to go and spea

open"-. If -ou "ie some$od- and -ou want some$od- to represent -ou,

-ou shou"d ha&e the right to do that. 3"pplause4

In one of these meetings with the pastors and ministers, I pointed out to

the street on *ifth A&enue, and I said, )8ou now, those peop"e wa"ing

down the street indi&idua""- ha&e more power than -ou do $e+ause the-

+an sa- whate&er the- want and -ou +an't. And we ha&e to get rid of

that, and if we don't, I rea""- thin -ou're going to ha&e a +ontinuing

spira". And I don't want to see that, $e+ause I'&e $een a Christian and I

"o&e Christianit-. And the e&ange"i+a"s ha&e $een so in+redi$"-

supporti&e. Don't forgetwhen I ran, and a"" of a sudden I went to states

that are high"- e&ange"i+a" "ie, as an examp"e, !outh Caro"ina. ? And

not on"- did I win, I won in a "ands"ide, and the e&ange"i+a"s were on m-

side. And then I won the !outh, and I won a"" o&er. And the e&ange"i+a"s

were so in+redi$"e. #he- rea""- get me, the- understand me, and it's an

amaEing group.

I a"wa-s sa-, we're gonna ha&e a time &er- soon, when I get e"e+ted,

when peop"e are going to sa- )9err- Christmas again. 8ou don't sa- it

right now. 8ou go into the $ig department stores, the- don't ha&e 9err-

Christmas up. #he- ha&e )app- o"ida-s, and now e&en that is +oming

under assau"t. 8ou +an't sa- )app- o"ida-s. e're $e+oming so

po"iti+a""- +orre+t that we +an't fun+tion as a +ountr- an-more.


16/31

3"pplause4 e're going to $e sa-ing )9err- Christmas again, and we're

going to $e sa-ing a "ot of other things. hen +oa+hes aren't a""owed to

pra- on the :e"d with their team, 3applause4 going into $att"e< #hat's a

disgra+e, and that's gonna +hange. And not e&er-$od- has to pra- if

the- don't want to, and that's :ne. %ut when a +oa+h has a team and

the-'re going into $att"e and the-'re restri+ted from pra-ing and the-

:re the +oa+hL those da-s wi"" $e o&er. 3"pplause4

/uc"aee: I honest"- thin we a"most stop now, $e+ause what -ou just

said was so refreshing.

Trump: I wi"" sa-, I now -ou "ie it, I now Dr. Do$son "ies it this is a

tremendous man, $- the wa-? 3tape change4. i""ar- the- +o&ered

her on *ox toda-. If she sa-s something, the mainstream media doesn't

want to pi+ it up. #he- don't pi+ it up. #he- prote+t her. If we sa-something we, as a group it's $ruta". %ut I'&e $een rea""- hit for

e&er-thing. #he- tae a great stor- and mae it a somewhat negati&e

stor-. It's amaEing. It's rea""-, it's an in+redi$"e thing to wat+h. I wi"" sa-

this #he po""s, the po""s +ame out toda-. And the- +ame out on C;;. #he

C;; an+hors were de&astated $e+ause the-'re so +"ose. #he- said,

#rump's had his worst three wees whi+h I didn't thin I didL I had m-

worst three wees in the press, $ut I don't thin I had m- worst three

wees $- an- stret+h. %ut the ost +ame out there was a Q to point

spread. #he- sa-, I +an't $e"ie&e it, she had the $est two wees of her

"ife, and there's &er- "itt"e di>eren+e in the po""s. I te"" -ou, fo"s, if we

get out and &ote, we're gonna win so easi"-. !o easi"-.

0onnie !lo(d $'ormer president o' the Southern aptist

Convention*:#han -ou, 9r. #rump. It's a great honor for me to stand

and represent a"" these peop"e toda- to as -ou this @uestion. As

e&ange"i+a" $e"ie&ers, oftentimes the media frames us as a &oting $"o+.

%ut the term )e&ange"i+a" means a "ot more than that to us. It means

that we $e"ie&e the %i$"e is the a$so"ute authorit- for a"" of "ife, faith and

pra+ti+eR that Jesus Christ is the on"- wa- to sa"&ationR that the u"timate

hope of the wor"d is to get the ospe" to a"" peop"e in the wor"d,

regard"ess of the +o"or of their sin. And we a"so $e"ie&e that e&er-

person has worth, that od has +reated us a"" in is image. And with

that, toda-, I as this @uestion to -ou resident ($ama was the :rst


17/31

$"a+ president in Ameri+an histor-. And, un@uestiona$"-, this was a

great triumph for the nited !tates, for +i&i" rights. And we a"" +e"e$rate

that moment. 8et, the nation seems toda- to $e more di&ided ra+ia""-

and there is more &io"en+e in the inner +ities than when resident ($ama

was e"e+ted. 9- @uestion is pertaining to -ou and -our administration. If

-ou're e"e+ted president of the nited !tates, what wi"" -ou do to address

the rea" need of po&ert- and +rime, &io"en+e and a "a+ of opportunit- in

the ur$an areas of our +ountr-< And to hea" the worsening ra+ia" tension

in the nited !tates of Ameri+a the fa+e of the earth. e are the

on"- friend the- ha&e. If -ou shou"d $e+ome president, and I $e"ie&e -ou

wi"", and I'm a"read- pra-ing that -ou wi"" ? hen -ou $e+ome

president, we want to now how -ou are going to stand with Israe" and

stand against those who want them to gi&e up some of their "and in

order to ha&e pea+e.

Trump: I'm 100 per+ent for Israe". I ha&e $een fore&er. It is an amaEing

+ountr-. It has $een shunned $- the nited !tates, in fa&or of Iran and

others. ;o$od- nows what's going on. #he Iran dea" is one of the worstdea"s I'&e e&er seen. I'm not e&en ta"ing a$out +ountr- to +ountr-. I'm

just ta"ing as a negotiation. #he- shou"d use that as a stud- at the

harton !+hoo" of *inan+e on how not to do a dea". 3 1aughter4 e ga&e

e&er-thing, in+"uding we're gi&ing them $a+ S1B0 $i""ion, and now

the-'re going around $u-ing an-thing the- want, in+"uding pro$a$"-

nu+"ear weapons. I said, the- won't ha&e to mae 'em, the- +an $u- 'em.

In parti+u"ar, it was a horri$"e dea" for Israe". !o man- of m- friends are

Jewish. In a"" fairness, the- supported ($ama o&er the -ears. I wou"d sa-,

)h- are -ou doing this< e's a disaster for Israe". #he- "o&e Israe",

the- :ght for Israe", and then the- support ($ama. If -ou "oo at %i$i

;etan-ahu, I don't now if he's said it pu$"i+"-, $ut I +an't imagine that

he "ies ($ama too mu+h. 31aughter4 e has forsaen these peop"e for

Iran and others, $ut Iran in parti+u"ar. And, fo"s, Iran has $e+ome a

major power. #he-'re gonna tae o&er Ira@. I was against the war in Ira@,

$ut I was tota""- against the wa- we got out of Ira@ as we"". I said, )Keep

the oi", eep the oi", eep the oi". #he- didn't eep the oi". In the o"d

da-s of going to war, -ou'd eep it, right< #o the &i+tor go the spoi"s.*o"s, honest"-< e ha&e stupid peop"e "eading this +ountr-.

I +ou"d sa- it I went to an I&- 7eague s+hoo", I +ou"d sa- it mu+h ni+er

than that. %ut there's no $etter des+ription. 31aughter4 And now Israe"'s

a"most "ie "ost to our +ountr-. e wi"" $ring that $a+, and we wi"" $ring

it $a+ fast. e're going to $e +"ose to Israe".


20/31

Samuel 0odrigue1 $president o' the 2ational /ispanic Christian

,eadership Con'erence*: 7atino e&ange"i+a"s are not a mono"ithi+

&oting +onstituen+-, $ut it is the fastestgrowing re"igious demographi+

right now. It is a +ommunit- +ommitted to "ife we're staun+h"-

+ommitted to "ifeR $i$"i+a" truthR we're +ommitted to edu+ationa" e@ua"it-.

(ne of the issues that +on+erns us is immigration. e are not in fa&or of

amnest-. e ha&e e&er- right to stop a"" i""ega" immigration as

expeditious"- as possi$"e. 3"pplause4 #here are terrorists +oming in,

nar+o tra+ers +oming in that want to do us harm. %ut -ou ta" a$out

$ui"ding a wa"". And $e+ause of what's taen p"a+e pre&ious"- and

e&en the interpretation through &arious media p"atforms and

su+h there is the idea in the 7atino +ommunit- that -ou ha&e no

+ommitment whatsoe&er to $ui"ding a $ridge to the ispani+Ameri+an+ommunit-. hat's -our strateg-, 9r. #rump, in doing $oth things in

prote+ting our $orders, prote+ting our nation, and simu"taneous"-

$ui"ding a $ridge with this wonderfu" +ommunit- +a""ed the ispani+

Ameri+an +ommunit-. e gi&e modern e@uipment to

our a""ies in the 9idd"e ast, and we don't e&en now who our a""ies are.

#he- ha&e $etter um&ees. 8ou now the stories 2,Q00 um&ees

3+aptured $- I!I!.4 e ha&e man-, man- warriors that ha&e "ost their"egs and arms and e&er-thing e"se. #he-'&e $een in a tru+ and it didn't

ha&e the armor. And the- dri&e down a road and the- get wiped out. And

we gi&e them to our a""ies. And then a $u""et is shot in the air, and our

a""ies run, and the enem- tae o&er the e@uipment 2,Q00 3um&ees

+aptured $- I!I!.4 A friend of mine has a son who has spent a "ot of time


25/31

in Ira@ and the en&ironment. And I said, )hat do -ou thin


26/31

Shac"el'ord:#his is a twopart @uestion on re"igious "i$ert-. #he :rst is

what -ou mentioned, that the next president is going to appoint at "east

three !upreme Court justi+es, pro$a$"- hundreds of federa" judges

these are "ife appointments. hat pro+ess or what peop"e are -ou going

to re"- on so -ou +an assure peop"e here to now -ou're gonna get rea""-

good justi+es< And se+ond"-, pro$a$"- the e- issue right now in re"igious

"i$ert- is the attempt to use ga- rights to trump re"igious freedom. !o a

$aer, "ie the +oup"e that's a Christian $aer in (regon, $e+ause the-

+ou"dn't do a ga- wedding +ae, the-'&e $een prose+uted $- the state,

the-'re $anrupt, the-'&e $een :ned S1QB,000 and to"d $- the judge that

the- need to $e, @uote, reha$i"itated. a&e -ou thought through -et, or

do -ou now -et, where -ou're going to stand< I now -ou ma- need

time on some of these issues. %ut I now this is something that wou"d $e&er- important to the peop"e in this room.

Trump:!o, on the judges #he *edera"ist !o+iet- is the go"d standard on

judges, are -ou happ- with that< I thin, right< A"so eritage

3*oundation4, Jim is fantasti+. Jim De9int and the eritage 3*oundation4

is I thin the-'re doing a great jo$. And the-'&e done it a"so. "us,

we're going to pro$a$"- put four or :&e additiona" 3judges on the "ist4 as

I'&e said $efore. And we're going do that. e're going to do that &er-

@ui+"-. And fran"-, the de+ision that -ou're "ooing at is u"timate"-

going to $e a +ourt de+ision. And the peop"e that go on the +ourt o&er

the next period of time are going to ha&e a "ot to do with that de+ision.

%e+ause right now, that de+ision does not "oo and I now where -ou

stand on it and that de+ision is not "ooing &er- good for -ou. And $-

the wa-, if -ou are pro"ife, it's not going to $e &er- good for pro"ife right

now. And if i""ar- gets in, honest"-, 9ie, if she pi+s two more judges

not three, four or :&e pro"ife is a who"e di>erent stor-.

8our @uestion is a who"e di>erent stor-. %e+ause u"timate"-, the +ourt is

going to de+ide that @uestion. #he-'re going to de+ide that answer. And Iwi"" sa- this and I'&e said $efore I'm putting pro"ife judges on. ? #he

justi+es that I'&e put on, and -ou +an "oo at their names and we ha&e

them posted, $ut the justi+es, I ha&e gotten tremendous, ra&e &iews

from the peop"e that we'&e pi+ed. "e&en, we'&e pi+ed 11 so far. And

we'"" pi+ a few more and the-'"" $e &er- simi"ar. I'&e gotten tremendous


27/31

re&iews. #he a"ternati&e is the opposite. #here won't $e an- pro"ife

judges put on there. #he- wi"" $e a"" pro+hoi+e. #he- wi"" $e a"", 100

per+ent.

/uc"aee:Just to add, I thin the !e+ond Amendment is gonna $e

gone. #hese are issues that shou"d $e de+ided $- the Ameri+an peop"e

through the $a""ot $ox, not $- a handfu" of rogue justi+es appointed for

"ife. 3"pplause4 And I thin we just want to now -ou're going to appoint

peop"e who wi"" respe+t the +onstitutiona" separation of powers and not

a""ow peop"e to $e appointed who wou"d go and "egis"ate from the

judi+ia" $ran+h. And I thin -ou +an gi&e us some +omfort that -ou're

going to appoint peop"e who respe+t the Constitution rather than

+omp"ete"- ignore it.

Trump:#ota" respe+t for the Constitution. I'm so g"ad -ou mentioned the!e+ond Amendment. %e+ause the !e+ond Amendment, "ie Christianit-,

the !e+ond Amendment is under siege. And -ou ha&e right now a tied

+ourt. And fran"-, if one judge gets on, that's the end of the !e+ond

Amendment +ertain"- as -ou now it. And I sa-, and I sa- it in a""

seriousness i""ar- C"inton is going to a$o"ish the !e+ond Amendment if

she $e+omes president. !he wi"" a$o"ish, so -ou're not going to ha&e

prote+tion. ? 8ou're not going to ha&e prote+tion. 8ou're not going to $e

a$"e to prote+t -ourse"f. !ome of the ideas the- ha&e are un$e"ie&a$"e

and not what our *ounders wanted or had in mind. !o the !e+ond

Amendment is tota""- under siege and we're going to prote+t the !e+ond

Amendment.

8ou now the ;5A endorsed me, it was the ear"iest endorsement that

the-'&e e&er gi&en. I ha&e great respe+t for the ;5A. And I thin that's an

important thing. %ut when we get down to the !upreme Court, -ou're

ta"ing a$out re"igious "i$ert-, freedom. 8ou're ta"ing a$out a"" of the

things that -ou ased a$out. And -our @uestion's great. %ut -ou now

u"timate"-, it's the +ourts that are going to de+ide. And if it's m- judges,

-ou now how the-'re going to de+ide. And if it's her judges, -ou a"so

now how the-'re going to de+ide. #his is su+h an important e"e+tion.

And I sa- to -ou fo"s, $e+ause -ou ha&e su+h power, su+h in=uen+e.

nfortunate"- the go&ernment has weeded it awa- from -ou prett-

strong"-. %ut -ou're going to get it $a+. 5emem$er this If -ou e&er add


28/31

up, the men and women here are the most important, powerfu" "o$$-ists.

8ou're more powerfu". %e+ause -ou ha&e men and women, -ou pro$a$"-

ha&e something "ie GB, H0 per+ent of the +ountr- $e"ie&ing. %ut -ou

don't use -our power. 8ou don't use -our power.

And I a+tua""- said, )ow is it possi$"e for 7-ndon Johnson to get that

througherent $a""game. e +an't "et that happen, fo"s. It's di>erent,

a"" righterent toda-. I now, as an examp"e, the -oung peop"e aren't going as

mu+h.

%ut we ha&e to $ring that $a+. e ha&e to $ring those &a"ues $a+. e

ha&e to $ring that spirit $a+. And in a wa-, it's $een taen wa- from -ou

$- the federa" go&ernment and $- these horrendous things that ha&e

$een a""owed in the past. %ut just remem$er this 8ou are the most

powerfu" group in this +ountr-. %ut -ou ha&e to rea"iEe that. 8ou ha&e to

$and together. 8ou ha&e to $and together. If -ou don't $and together,

-ou're rea""- not powerfu". 8ou ha&e a powerfu" +hur+h. I see it. I see

some of these in+redi$"e pastors and ministers and peop"e that spea so

$ri""iant"-. And I see it. %ut the-'re great within their audien+e $ut then

outside the- don't ha&e it. 8ou ha&e to $and together as a group. And if

-ou do that, -ou wi"" $ring it $a+ "ie nothing has e&er $een $rought

$a+. 3"pplause4

/uc"aee: After what -ou said a$out +hur+h and going to +hur+h, I ha&e

a fee"ing -ou're going to ha&e a thousand in&itations to show up at

+hur+h e&er- !unda-. I now that -ou ha&e sta-ed far "onger than

origina""- was agreed to. e &er- mu+h appre+iate and respe+t the fa+t


29/31

that -ou didn't just gi&e us the time, -ou ga&e us wa- $e-ond what -ou

were a$"e to do. And I'm sure -our sta> is upset $e+ause we ha&e

extended -our s+hedu"e.

Trump: 9ie, there's nothing more important than this group of peop"e

to me.

/uc"aee: e"", I agree with -ou. 3"pplause4 #here's 1,000 peop"e

representing mi""ions of peop"e a+ross Ameri+a who understand that this

e"e+tion is rea""- not a hard "ift. e ha&e i""ar- C"inton, and we ha&e

-ou. 8ou want to mae Ameri+a great again. 8ou $ring disrupti&e

"eadership to this +ountr- that wi"" +ha""enge the institutions that ha&e

&irtua""- ruined the Ameri+a that man- of us now, grew up in,

appre+iate and want to hand to our ids and grandids. i""ar- C"inton

wi"" +ontinue the spira"ing downfa"" of this +ountr-, mora""-,+onstitutiona""-, and e&en in her state+raft, whi+h we +annot a""ow to

happen.

And what I'&e sensed here is there are a "ot of peop"e who not on"-

appre+iate the extraordinar- amount of time and attention that -ou'&e

gi&en to them, $ut more important"- it's not to them, it's to the peop"e

the- represent, to their ids, to their grandids, to the future of Ameri+a.

And as I said at the $eginning, I don't thin an-$od- +ame here toda-

expe+ting -ou to $e a$"e to answer a %i$"e @uiE. #hat wasn't the who"e

point. %ut what we heard toda- was a reminder wh- the peop"e of this

+ountr- ga&e -ou more &otes in the primar- than the- ha&e another

5epu$"i+an +andidate in the histor- of the pro+ess. od wi""ing, -ou wi""

"oo $a+ in -our :rst -ear as president of the nited !tates and -ou wi""

sa- that this e&ent at the 9ar@uis 9arriott in ;ew 8or was one of the

semina" e&ents if not the semina" e&ent and turning point in taing

-ou to the presiden+-. And on $eha"f of a"" these peop"e I wou"d "ie to

sa- than -ou and od $"ess -ou for -our time toda-. 3"pplause4

I do $e"ie&e it's what I said to 9r. #rump and I thin -ou agree with me

this has tru"- $een a semina" e&ent in the pro+ess of e"e+ting our next

president, $ut more important"- in getting Ameri+a $a+ on tra+ where

we +an $e proud of the Ameri+a that we gi&e to the next generation.

James 0oison $'ounder o' ,4!% &utreach 4nternational*:7et me

just sa- that 9r. #rump met gra+ious"- with some of the "eaders that -ou


30/31

respe+t this morning, and the- represented -our heart, and not on"- -our

heart $ut the heart of od to this man. And I +an te"" -ou with no

exaggeration, Dona"d #rump is great"- impressed with the Jesus he saw

in those men and women there and in -ou. e "ies what he sees. And

with a"" m- heart, I $e"ie&e that his heart is open to re+ei&ing from the

Jesus that we "o&e and worship. ith a"" m- heart. %en, I want to than

-ou and Cand-, -ou'&e just $een su+h a $"essing. #o others who stepped

out ahead of time and said, TDon't write him o>.' I $e"ie&e he wants to

hear od's &oi+e through -ou and I persona""- $e"ie&e he wants to heed.

And I thin if we wa" together, in supernatura" unit- with the *ather and

one another, I $e"ie&e our nation is going to $eho"d the g"or- of od in

his +hur+h and I thin we wi"" experien+e the next reat Awaening. 7et's

join together in pra-er for that.*ather, I want to than -ou for these who are standing out here, and I

pra- -ou wou"d remo&e from an- mind or heart an- thought that we

might $e the sma""er, more insigni:+ant parts of -our $od-, when I now

for a fa+t it is high"- "ie"- the more signi:+ant ingdom impa+t are those

who are here in this room. %ut e&en $e-ond them it ma- $e "ie that

$eautifu" "ad- we saw in the war room, pra-ing for -our power. od, it

ma- $e someone who pra-ed the pastor that's here into this p"a+e. e

$e"ie&e there are peop"e pra-ing a"" o&er this nation and we $e"ie&e

around the wor"d pra-ing for this nation of ours that's experien+ed the

freedom that Christ +ame to gi&e, that $"esses e&er-one.

*ather, p"ease, not on"- he"p e&er-one pra-ing with me in this room to

understand their &ita" importan+e in -our mind, $ut to go $a+ and te""

e&er- mem$er of their +hur+h fami"- where the- shepherd and where

the- "ead of their great, indes+ri$a$"e &a"ue and importan+e in maing a

ingdom impa+t at this &er- dar moment in human histor- and the

histor- of our nation. Jesus, I want to sa-, what I pra- is in the heart of

e&er-one here, we "o&e -ou, 7ord. e "o&e -ou with a"" our heart, mind,sou" and strength. And we want to "o&e our neigh$or, in+"uding e&er-

distin+t"- di&erse and sometimes e&en outofs-n+ mem$er of -our $od-.

e want to $e an answer to -our pra-er, whi"e we as -ou to answer our

pra-ers.


31/31

I'm asing -ou to he"p us together and it +an on"- $e together that

we +an $e the shining +it- set on a hi"" that +annot $e hid. I'm asing -ou

to put it in the heart of e&er- person in this room, and -es, on Dona"d

#rump and his fami"-. e want to $e an answer to -our pra-er. e want

to see -our pra-er in)ohn 89answered in our da-, so that when -ou

+ome $a+ in g"or- -ou wi"" $e +oming for a +hur+h a"read- adorned in

-our g"or-, and this wor"d wi"" now in fa+t if the- thin the- are reje+ting

Christ the- wi"" at "east now what he "oos "ie. #he- wi"" now who

the-'re reje+ting and who the-'re a++epting, $e+ause the transforming

power of -our "ife dwe""ing in us and the one -ou sent, just "ie -ou, to

"i&e in us, wi"" $e :na""- in +ontro" of the $od- -ou $irthed. #o -ou $e the

honor and g"or- fore&er and e&er. And we're asing -ou to "et us witness

and $e a part of the next great spiritua" awaening. In Jesus' name,amen.

Correction:The start of the transcript initially identi(ed the (rst

speaker as Ralph Reed$ founder of the *aith and *reedom Coalition. The

speaker is not identi(ed in the audio.

https//www.-ahoo.+om/news/trans+riptdona"dtrumps+"oseddoormeetingwithe&ange"i+a""eaders1FBH10H2.htm"

trump evangelical meeting transcript

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