Donald Trump to evangelicals: We don't know 'anything about Hillary in terms of religion'

Donald Trump addresses nearly 1,000 evangelical Christian leaders
(Image credit: Twitter/@ewjacksonsr)

At a Times Square hotel on Tuesday, Donald Trump met with nearly 1,000 conservative Christian leaders for a few hours in a closed-door conference designed to assuage evangelical Christians' concerns about the presumptive GOP candidate. The reactions from all parties was positive, from the initial standing ovation for Trump to the public reaction afterward from several evangelical leaders, who said they are more excited about Trump than before the meeting. The press was not invited and participants were told not to take pictures, but this is 2016 and E.W. Jackson, a Virginia radio host and lead pastor at Exodus Faith Ministries, tweeted out some comments and videos from the event.

In one video, Trump, a Presbyterian, tells the crowd they don't know "anything about Hillary in terms of religion. You know, she's been in public eye for years and years, and yet there's no, there's nothing out there. There's like nothing out there." If Clinton, a Methodist who has quoted Bible verses and discussed how her faith has influenced her on the campaign trail, becomes president, Trump added, "it's going to be an extension of Obama, but it's going to be worse because with Obama you had your guard up, with Hillary you don't. And it's going to be worse." He also suggested attendees pray for "one specific person" to be elected.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.