During an interview on Friday’s edition of OutFront on CNN, host Brianna Keilar questioned pollster Frank Luntz about white evangelical voters' continued support for Donald Trump. Luntz elaborated on the reasons behind this unwavering support, emphasizing their trust in Trump to protect their faith compared to their reservations about the Democratic Party.
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BRIANNA KEILAR
Today, Good Friday, Easter, of course, this weekend, Trump is hoping his supporters will buy the Bibles that he is now selling. Let's watch.
TRUMP
All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many. It's my favorite book. It's a lot of people's favorite book. This Bible is a reminder that the biggest thing we have to bring back America and to make America great again is our religion.
BRIANNA KEILAR
I saw you there, Frank, shaking your head. But that's also, I wonder if that's because the multiple times that I want to play this, that Trump has really had these awkward exchanges when it comes to religion and his faith.
BRIANNA KEILAR
Here is two of them, including one with you, back in 2015.
FRANK LUNTZ
But have you ever asked God for forgiveness?
TRUMP
I'm not sure I have. I just go and try and do a better job from there. I don't think so. I think if I do something wrong, I think I just try and make it right. I don't bring God into that picture. I don't.
MARK HALPERIN
I'm wondering what one or two of your most favored Bible verses are and why.
TRUMP
I wouldn't want to get into it, because to me that's very personal. You know, when I talk about the Bible, it's very personal, so I don't want to get into it. I don't want to get into it. There's no verse.
TRUMP
It means a lot to you that you think.
TRUMP
So, the Bible means a lot to me, but I don't want to get into specifics.
BRIANNA KEILAR
Your question there, Frank, as I'm refreshed in my memory, it was such a good one there. And yet despite these moments and others to this day, polls show white evangelical voters are hugely behind him.
BRIANNA KEILAR
Why?
FRANK LUNTZ
I know it sounds contradictory, but they trust him to protect those of faith. The Republican Party, now some people think it's gone too far, and notice they said the word faith, not religion. This is about faith.
FRANK LUNTZ
It's about a private relationship between you and your God, and religion is the named brand of it, and that's not really what this is about. Voters, evangelical voters, trust Donald Trump to protect them and to allow them to practice their faith, and they don't have the same confidence with the Democratic Party, just as Democrats trust the ability to keep religion and government separate.
FRANK LUNTZ
This is why you have Democrats and Republicans. I just find it unseemly that you're hawking a Bible, you hawk sneakers a few weeks ago, you sell perfume, you sell trading cards, you used to sell beef or meat or whatever you want to call it.
FRANK LUNTZ
It just doesn't seem proper, but I want to emphasize it doesn't seem to matter. The public is still narrowly in favor of Trump. So clearly something is going on that all of these issues do not seem to be having the impact that one would expect.
During an interview on Friday’s edition of OutFront on CNN, host Brianna Keilar questioned pollster Frank Luntz about white evangelical voters' continued support for Donald Trump. Luntz elaborated on the reasons behind this unwavering support, emphasizing their trust in Trump to protect their faith compared to their reservations about the Democratic Party.
