“Do I love the Mormons?” Donald Trump asked last week in Utah. “I have many friends that live in Salt Lake City, I have a lot of friends, I have a lot of friends, and by the way, Mitt Romney is not one of them. Did he choke? Did this guy choke? He’s a choke artist. I can’t believe — are you sure he’s a Mormon? Are we sure?”
Despite Trump’s (mixed) praise for the Mormon faith heading into the Utah primary, Mormon voters may want to know why the Republican presidential frontrunner has been touting the support of Texas pastor Robert Jeffress.
Trump has heartily embraced Jeffress, even bringing him on stage at his rallies.
Things have changed quite a bit since 2012, when Rick Perry was roundly criticized for touting Jeffress’ support because of Jeffress’ anti-Mormon preaching, much of it directed at Mitt Romney, such as his declaration that Mormonism and Islam are demonic faiths “from the pit of hell”:
Jeffress has similarly claimed that the Roman Catholic Church was created by Satan.
And that’s not to mention his frequent tirades against gay people.
Somehow, Trump’s claim to “love the Mormons” is less convincing given that he’s aligned himself with a radical pastor who believes Catholicism, Mormonism, Islam and homosexuality are inspired by Satan.
