Miami – President Donald Trump This Friday he addressed his evangelical electorate in a Hispanic temple in Miami after the petition for impeachment made by an influential sector of this Church and amid controversies such as the invitation made by Pastor Guillermo Maldonado to attend the undocumented act in support of Republican without fear of being deported during the political rally.
Trump, who has remained in Florida during the holiday season, He called today to parishioners and pastors gathered in the International Ministry of King Jesus, led by Maldonado, to re-elect him and repeat the “monumental victory” of 2016.
In a speech focusing on crucial issues for the religious community such as abortion, the “crusade (of the Democrats) against Christianity” and the support of his government for Israel, Trump referred to Maldonado as a “great guy.”
The event served as a platform for the launch of the Evangelical coalition by Trump, who seeks the permanence of the Republican in the White House, in a nation where a quarter of its citizens identify with this creed.
The real estate mogul, who arrived in the Presidency in 2016 with the support of 81% of the “Protestant evangelical” electorate compared to 16% of his Democratic contender Hillary Clinton, invited the assistants to “burst in 2020 those numbers”.
Considering himself “a champion” of evangelicals in the White House, the Republican invited them to “work hard” as they did four years ago.
However, that broad support at the polls has recently been questioned by the Christianity Today magazine, the influential publication of this Church, which in an editorial in mid-December said Trump should be removed from office.
The Republican’s response was to schedule the event held today in this Kendall megachurch in Miami-Dade County the following week, with capacity for 7,000 parishioners and which has been unmarked from the political meeting by stating that he only rented the premises for ” fair compensation. “
Mentioning that it is “the largest congregation of Hispanics in the United States,” Trump joked about attending the Sunday service of the Honduran pastor at some point.
The event in Florida, a state with 24% Protestant evangelicals and a similar percentage of immigrants, was preceded by criticism for the words of the Central American, who during a sermon invited his faithful to support Trump and even appealed to undocumented immigrants. not to fear deportations in the temple.
The president also highlighted the United States attack this Thursday that ended the life of Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Guardians of the Revolution of Iran.
The “bloodbath” is over, Trump said.
For his part, prior to Trump’s speech, Pastor Maldonado assured attendees that his presence was a “personal title”, noting that the International Ministry of King Jesus was an apolitical organization.
This Church said Maldonado “has been selected to be part of the Evangelical Coalition for Trump,” a group of pastors who pray and advise the president on important spiritual matters from a Christian perspective.
The Honduran, a frequent White House visitor, prayed during the event for Trump and asked God to “guide him and give him strength to continue leading until God commands.”
Meanwhile, more than a dozen Christian religious leaders in Florida on Thursday signed an open letter to Trump making him “responsible for the division in this country with his dangerous policies.”
Minister Kevin Chambliss was especially concerned about Trump’s harsh immigration policy, which has separated children from their parents and driven by mass deportations, and regretted his “disrespecting unbridled by law” and the minorities of this nation.
Religious leaders, who spoke during an event organized by the Florida Democratic Party, criticized Trump for “political gain” with the use of religion and lamented Trump’s immigration and health policies that, they said, negatively affect the less favored .
The event “is Trump’s desperate response to realizing that he is losing his main voting block: voters of faith,” said Doug Pagitt, director of the civil group Vote Common Good
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