Donald Trump already has his mind set on 2024, when he will seek to become president of the United States once again. On Monday, he spoke about evangelicals, a group that was vital for his victory in 2016 but that has now distanced itself somewhat from the businessman and former president.
During an interview with the television program "The Water Cooler" from Real America's Voice, Trump lashed out at the religious group for not promoting his recent presidential candidacy. The 76-year-old Republican said it was a "sign of disloyalty" after his multiple gestures in their favor.
Trump recalled that the three justices he appointed to the Supreme Court (Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch) made the overturning of Roe v. Wade possible, something lobbied by evangelicals for years. "No one has ever done more for the right to life than Donald Trump," he exclaimed.
Trump just slammed evangelical leaders who haven't yet pledged support for his 2024 presidential campaign as 'disloyal.' That'll surely win them over. pic.twitter.com/PgzsnWYziq
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) January 16, 2023
The former president's statements were aimed primarily at Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, who has great influence over the religious public.
Jeffress, for years a staunch Trump supporter, began to show skepticism in the midterm elections. In addition, during an interview with Fox, he opined that former Vice President Mike Pence could be a "strong contender" for the presidential election.
Although the vote is still more than a year away, Trump will kick off his campaign on Jan. 28 in South Carolina, where he will be accompanied by Senator Lindsey Graham and Governor Henry McMaster.
