Trump tells Christian leaders that America would be better off if they were more powerful

Talking to Christian leaders in Georgia on Monday, Donald Trump said the U.S. would be better off if it were more powerful, and he vowed to try to permanently remove restrictions that prevent churches from maintaining tax-exempt status if they engage in overt politicking.

The Atlanta event was hosted by far-right televangelist Paula White-Cain and the National Faith Advisory Council, which she founded after served as Trump’s spiritual advisor in the White House. Mother Jones published a dispatch from the west, highlighting some of the extremist religious leaders present.

White-Kane painted Trump’s opponents as part “demonic” networks to get it and dreamed of “satanic pregnancy”, and she often portrays Trump as ordained by God.

At the event on MondayTrump praised the religious leaders in attendance, saying:

You are so important. You do such an incredible job — and you hold the country together. And the stronger you become, the better the country will become. So I’m with you all the way.

I’m sure people who have had to deal with the deadly abortion bans that conservative Christians seek, and the condemnation of gay or trans children in many far-right churches, have a different take on this.

But Trump told these Christian leaders that he would help strengthen their political power. One way, he said, he would do that is by trying to “permanently” repeal the so-called Johnson Amendment, a provision of the U.S. tax code that allows charitable groups and churches that receive tax-exempt status to endorse political candidates.

Trump told these Christian leaders that he would help strengthen their political power.

Repeal of this amendment — the priority of Christian nationalist politicians, such as House Speaker Mike Johnson — would effectively allow many Christian nationalist leaders who have aligned themselves with Trump to feel free to turn their churches into more obvious MAGA propaganda machines.

Like The Washington Post notedThe Johnson Amendment is “rarely applied by the IRS and neglected by the clergy.” It also gives religious leaders quite broad powers to participate in political matters.

However, the MAGA faithful want more.

Trump falsely said On Monday, he “got rid of” the Johnson Amendment during his presidency, adding that “they” — the ominous “they” — “didn’t want you talking to people.” In fact, he simply signed an executive order ordering the Treasury Department to be ticketed more gentle in its application.

But he now appears to be making plans to more aggressively attack the Johnson Amendment, potentially blurring the lines between church and state and empowering Christian extremists who use the pulpit to help him.