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U.S. NEWS Friday 9 June 2017
Trump to evangelicals: We’re ‘under siege,’ will be stronger

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE White House and Congress.
Associated Press The Republican-controlled
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- House passed a bill with
dent Donald Trump sought the bare minimum of GOP
comfort in the figurative votes and none from Dem-
embrace of his evangeli- ocrats. Senate Republicans
cal supporters Thursday as are working on their version
the FBI director he recently of the bill, but are divided
fired told Congress about about the approach.
their conversations. The Trump overlooked the in-
president told a religious traparty squabbles and
gathering that “we’re un- blamed Democrats. He
der siege” but will emerge said Democrats have gone
“bigger and better and so far to the left in terms of
stronger than ever.” opposing him that “they’re
Trump made no reference bad right now for the
to James Comey in his re- country.” Democrats op-
marks to the Faith and pose dismantling Obama’s
Freedom Coalition’s an- health law. The president
nual gathering. But hours urged the audience to
before the president’s first help send more Republi-
public comments of the cans to Congress in next
day, Comey told the Sen- year’s midterm elections,
ate intelligence commit- noting the GOP has just a
tee that Trump tried to get President Donald Trump speaks to a Faith and Freedom conference at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, 52-48 edge in the Senate
him to pledge loyalty and Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Washington. and a slim advantage in
drop an investigation into (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) the House.q
former National Security other issues.
Adviser Michael Flynn. Trump mentioned his nomi-
Trump abruptly fired Com- nation of federal judge Neil
ey last month. Trump’s at- Gorsuch to the Supreme
torney said the president Court, which pleased
never asked Comey to Christian conservatives. He
stop investigating anyone. also has directed the IRS to
In his remarks to the con- ease up on using a rarely
ference, Trump pledged to enforced rule barring par-
always support the right of tisan political activity by
evangelicals to follow their churches and tax-exempt
faith, which some conser- organizations.
vatives believe is under at- “As long as I’m president,
tack by government. no one is going to stop you
“We will always support our from practicing your faith
evangelical community or preaching what is in
and defend your right and your heart,” he said.
the right of all Americans Trump won an overwhelm-
to follow and to live by the ing 80 percent of the white
teachings of their faith,” evangelical vote in the
the president told more November election. A re-
than 1,000 activists meet- cent Pew Research Center
ing at a hotel across town survey marking his first 100
from Capitol Hill, the scene days in office found three-
of Comey’s nationally tele- fourths of white evangeli-
vised testimony. But we will cals approved of his per-
come out bigger and bet- formance as president.
ter and stronger than ever. Thirty-nine percent of the
You watch,” Trump said. general public held the
“You fought hard for me same view.
and now I’m fighting hard Trump said restoring free-
for all of you.” dom also meant repealing
Trump spoke about his ac- and replacing the health
tions to safeguard religious care law enacted in 2010
freedom and continued, by then-President Barack
for the second straight Obama, saying high de-
day, to label congressional ductibles and premiums
Democrats as “obstruc- have turned it into a “ca-
tionists” who are blocking tastrophe.” But a replace-
his agenda. Yet it is differ- ment health care bill has
ences of opinion among yet to clear Congress de-
Republicans, who control spite seven years of pledg-
both houses of Congress, es by Republicans to scrap
that are standing in the the law and start over, and
way of what Trump wants despite the fact that the
to do on health care and GOP has full control of the