Tony Perkins, president of the anti-LGBTQ group Family Research Center, said that evangelical faith leaders are willing to overlook President Trump’s alleged affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels as long as Trump continues to fulfill promises he made to them and remains “the most pro-life, pro-family president.”
In the final minutes of yesterday’s “Washington Watch” show, Perkins commented an appearance he made on CNN Tuesday evening. He encouraged viewers to watch the segment and went on to explain his recent comments that evangelicals had given Trump a “mulligan” regarding hush money he paid to cover up an alleged affair he had with Daniels.
“A lot of the media has picked up a statement I made that the president—that evangelicals have given the president a mulligan. Not on this issue. Adultery is a serious issue, no matter who does it or where it’s done. My point is, all of these things that we were concerned about with the president we were aware of before the election,” Perkins said. “Most of us were not supporting him until it came down to a choice between him and Hillary Clinton.”
Perkins said that when it became clear Trump would be the Republican nominee, Trump had asked evangelical leaders to give him a chance and promised them he would appoint judges who oppose abortion rights.
“He wrapped himself in the most conservative, family-values-oriented platform in the history of the party and he chose Mike Pence as his running mate. And he has surrounded himself with evangelicals and pledged to do differently,” Perkins said. “And from that standpoint, I said evangelicals understand change. They understand grace and the chance to do over.”
Perkins said that evangelical faith leaders’ support for Trump is “not unconditional” but that “as long as he continues to be the most pro-life, pro-family president” and “continues to walk the straight and narrow with the right influence,” Perkins and his allies will continue to support his administration.
