Pastor Robert Jeffress, who has been a source of spiritual advice to President Trump since his 2016 election, is speaking hopefully of the future since the President’s election. “I believe most evangelicals, conservative Catholics and conservative Jews all view President Trump’s re-election with a feeling of relief and gratitude to God,” he said prior to the president’s inauguration. He spoke of America’s “downward spiral” in the last four years, as Judeo-Christian values have become more and more marginalized. “To many people, I believe President Trump’s re-election represents God giving America another chance — perhaps her last chance — to reverse this downward trajectory,” he added.

Jeffress listed off a series of things that have pushed the nation downward, including transgender ideology and growing anti-Israel sentiment. Such confusing issues “have caused people of faith to lament,” according to Jeffress, “but they feel very hopeful now that President Trump is about to enter the White House [again] and they’re going to be filled with prayers for him.” He encouraged Americans to continue in prayer for the 47^th president. “Now, I know some of our viewers and readers may be saying, ‘Pastor, are you a hypocrite? Would you have said the same thing about Joe Biden?’ And in fact, I wrote an op-ed piece for Fox News when Biden was elected, saying we may be lamenting his election, but we need to obey the Bible and pray for him,” he stated.

He cited his 10-year friendship with the president and stated he believed he wants to unite the country. “Not everybody’s going to agree with every policy he initiates, but I think they’re going to see that he wants what is best for the country we all love.” President Trump has made some bold moves already, issuing an executive order to end birthright citizenship. Many opponents view birthright citizenship as being guaranteed by the 14^th Amendment, while others have stated birthright citizenship is an overreach of what the Amendment was originally intended to do. Trump’s executive order has already been halted by challenges to its legality.

While Jeffress will not serve in an official capacity as a faith advisor to the president, he stated he intended to continue to support the president during his new term. He also stated his genuine belief in Trump’s love of the country. “And I think Americans ought to be able to follow any man or woman who has that kind of feeling about our country,” he said. “Greatness is in our goodness. And the Bible says the only goodness we can have is by our right relationship with God. And I hope we’ll begin not only this New Year, but this new term of the Trump administration with a new commitment to follow God. If God blesses a nation, nothing can thwart His purpose or our success.”