Trump Calls Out Non-Christian Conservatives And Suggests They Leave The Room
Donald Trump has been widely criticised for suggesting at a political rally that anyone who was not a Christian conservative could be booted from the room.
The Republican presidential candidate was speaking in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
He held up a sign with a blue background reading: "Christian Conservatives For Trump. Make America Great Again."
He told the cheering crowd: "We have our Christian conservatives for Trump today. And they're in the room. Let's go. That's what we want. That's beautiful."
He said: "Raise your hand. Christian coservatives. Everybody."
The room then went almost silent when he continued: "Raise your hand if you're not a Christian conservative. I want to see this. Right."
He paused and looked around until he spotted a few hands. "That is a couple of people. That's alright. I think we'll keep them, right? Shall we keep them in the room? I think so."
Christians and others took to Twitter to criticise Trump for his remarks.
Billy Byler, young adults pastor at Wichita First Church of the Nazarene in Kansas, tweeted:
As I follow this presidential election it seems that, from a Christian perspective, Donald Trump is running for president of Babylon.
— Billy Byler (@TheByler) September 29, 2016
Alan Pierce tweeted:
"Donald Trump Seemingly Asks If He Should Eject Non-Christian Conservatives From Rally" - Response: https://t.co/buxxRxmbr0
— Alan Pierce (@entertained1) September 29, 2016
Terrance Carroll, attorney, rancher and former speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, tweeted:
I'm going to unapologetically say the very notion of Donald Trump as the Christian candidate is offensive to the gospel.
— Terrance Carroll (@speakercarroll) September 29, 2016
Christian author Philip Yancey recently slammed pastors who support Trump and said he was "staggered" that some Christians saw him as a hero.
Yancey said Trump was a "bully who made his money by casinos" and "a person who stands against everything that Christianity believes".
He said he was baffled by evangelical support for Trump.