CNN asks evangelical leaders Tony Perkins, Franklin Graham why they give Trump a pass on Stormy Daniels

Erin Burnett grills Tony Perkins
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/CNN)

White evangelical Christians are President Trump's electoral rock, and while there's significant erosion in the group, evangelical political leaders are still firmly aboard the Trump train. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, explained to Politico that evangelicals gave Trump "a mulligan" and "a do-over." On CNN Tuesday night, Erin Burnett asked him why, especially after porn star Stormy Daniels' detailed account of an extramarital affair she says she had with Trump in 2006.

"If this behavior were occurring today, right now, as he is president of the United States, I can assure you that my support and the support of evangelicals would be dissipating very rapidly," Perkins said. Trump won over evangelicals by promising to appoint pro-life judges, making Mike Pence his running mate, and embracing "the most conservative party platform ever, and yes, evangelicals, conservatives, gave him a mulligan, they let him have a do-over," Perkins said. "Evangelicals understand what a second chance means."

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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.