Donald Trump promised to protect Christians in a speech to 10,000 students at Liberty University on Monday.
“We’re going to protect Christianity,” Trump said. “I can say that. I don’t have to be politically correct.”
Trump quoted 2 Corinthians 3:17, “Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Trump, however, pronounced it “two Corinthians” instead of the typical “second Corinthians.”
Trump went on to describe his Christian background, saying he’s “very very proud of it.” Trump is a Presbyterian. Despite that, Trump used vulgar language on multiple occasions in his speech, with lines like “bomb the hell out of ISIS” and getting Apple to “make their damn computers” in the United States.
Trump also called on Christians to unite, as he says they’ve done at Liberty University. “If you look at what’s going on throughout the world … Christianity, it’s under siege,” Trump said. “Bad things are happening. Very bad things are happening. I don’t know what it is. We don’t band together, maybe? Other religions, frankly, they’re banding together.”
Trump spoke at one of the school’s mandatory convocations, which happen three times a week. He had previously addressed the convocation in September 2012. Presidential candidates Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Rick Santorum and Jim Gilmore have all spoken at the university in the past, as well as Bernie Sanders on the Democratic side. Cruz perhaps got the most attention, because he launched his campaign there in March.
Trump was introduced by the university’s president, Jerry Falwell, Jr., who often gives positive introductions for the candidates. “By their fruits, you shall know them,” Falwell said Monday, quoting Matthew 7:16. Falwell listed a number of good deeds Trump has done, adding that Trump is “friendly and personable to strangers.” Falwell gave Trump a particularly nice compliment, saying Trump remins him of his father, Jerry Falwell, Sr., who founded the school, which is located in Lynchburg, Va.
Despite the praise, Falwell specified that Trump’s appearance is not an endorsement by Liberty University.
Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
