Despite the many critics President Donald Trump has to deal with on a daily basis, he at least has a staunch supporter in Rev. Franklin Graham.
When evangelist Billy Graham's son appeared on Fox & Friends Weekend, he once again lauded Trump for being a true defender of the Christian faith, whereas past presidents mostly "scolded Christians."
He was questioned about the political prisoners in North Korea and asked to compare them to the "religious prisoners" of the United States. With regards to the latter, Graham is confident that Trump is going to take good care of them.
"What I love about our president is that our president defends the Christian faith," he said. "Our past presidents scolded Christians. This president is defending Christians and he's very open about the Christian faith.
"I love that about President Trump and, of course at the prayer breakfast just a few days ago he was tremendous that America is a nation of believers," he continued. "And we're strengthened by the power of prayer, he reminded everyone. He also reminded us that faith is central to American life. It is. It is central to our life as a nation. I'm very thankful that Donald Trump takes this stand."
Graham knows a lot of people criticize Trump and do not really see him as a good example of Christian faith, but neither is he. Still, Graham appreciates that Trump is at least defending Christianity - even though his language can use some brushing up.
"He doesn't always articulate it like a preacher would," said Graham, "and I think people condemn him because they expect him to talk like a preacher. He's not. But he does have a very strong faith."
Not everyone in the Graham family appreciates his strong support for Trump, according to the Portland Press Herald. Jerushah Armfield, Billy Graham's granddaughter and Franklin's niece, thinks it would be best if her uncle veered away from politics and kept his views to himself. She said Trump "encouraged racism, sexism and intolerance, exactly what Jesus taught against."
She added her grandfather Billy "understood the love of Jesus that fought for the outliers while the president-elect ostracised them." But the evangelical leaders who supported Trump are not the same way, and prioritised power and influence over principles and character, Armfield asserted.
