Donald Trump is banking on evangelical Christians to turn out in large numbers at the midterm elections on November 6 and in his view, they have good reason to.
The US president said in an interview with CBN that Christians should vote for him because his administration has done more for them than any other.
With the Democrats confident of regaining the majority in the House of Representatives next week, the Republicans could be facing some upsets even if they manage to retain control of the Senate.
President Trump is confident that the Christian vote at least will go his way.
'Well, they're going to show up for me because nobody's done more for Christians or evangelicals or frankly religion than I have,' he said.
'You've seen all the things that we've passed including the Johnson Amendment and so many things we've nullified. Nobody's done more than we have.'
Trump promised to 'totally destroy' the Johnson Amendment in his address to the National Prayer Breakfast in 2017. The tax code provision prohibiting non-profit organisations from endorsing political candidates still stands, but last year Trump signed an executive order stating that 'churches should not be found guilty of implied endorsements where secular organizations would not be'.
In the CBN interview, Trump added that Christians are 'very happy with me' for reinstating the Mexico City Policy, which prevents foreign NGOs from promoting or performing abortions as a condition for receiving US government funding.
He also denied that people think he lacks empathy, saying his critics are 'doing anything to get us all out of office'.
Trump thanked Christians for their prayers, saying that people come up to him all the time to tell him they are praying for him.
'I think we've had tremendous support in the form of prayer ... It's very nice,' he said.
According to Pew Research, 81 per cent of white evangelical Christians voted for Trump in the 2016 presidential elections, and he is counting on them again next week and in 2020.
'The question is whether or not they're going to go out and vote when I'm not running,' he said.
'I have no doubt they're going to be there in '20. I hope they're going to be there now because it'll be a lot easier if they are, a lot better.'
