The Check In: Trump and Religion

-While the White House is engulfed in scandal and chaos,
it may seem like President Trump is getting nothing done,
but that's not necessarily the case.
For example, he's already signed an executive order
on religious liberty.
So we decided to take a break
from the breaking news of the day
and look at Trump's evolving views on religion, faith,
and the separation of church and state.
It's time for "The Check In."
[ Cheers and applause ]
Now that he's president,
Trump is realizing just how difficult the job is,
and he doesn't have much to show for it.
His health care bill failed,
there's constant infighting
and staff changes in the White House,
and of course the Russia investigation
continues to loom over him.
And it's often in dark times like this
that a man will turn to God.
-Take care of the people God put into your life.
We want our children to know the blessings of God.
Have a great life and love your country and love your God, okay?
In America, we don't worship government.
We worship God.
-Oh, don't worry.
Nobody is worshipping government.
[ Laughter ]
I didn't take three hours at the DMV
because I had to push through throngs of worshippers.
In fact, I heard the Lord's name taken in vain a lot.
Now, admittedly, Trump did talk
about God a lot during the campaign,
but what he had to say about God was a real mixed bag.
-I don't bring God into that picture. I don't.
Why do I have to repent, why do I have to ask for forgiveness,
if you're not making mistakes?
I say God is the ultimate.
You know, you look at this -- you look at this incredible --
here we are in the Pacific Ocean.
How did I ever own this?
I bought it 15 years ago.
I made one of the great deals they say ever.
-We love the Bible. It's the best.
We love "The Art of the Deal,"
but the Bible is far, far, far superior, right? Yes.
-Not only is the Bible better than "The Art of the Deal,"
it's also the opposite.
The only thing they have in common
is that Trump has never read either of them.
[ Laughter ]
[ Cheers and applause ]
Now, one moment that best illustrated
Trump's unfamiliarity with the Bible
was when he referred to Second Corinthians
during a speech at Liberty University
but called it something else.
-i hear this is a major theme right here,
but Two Corinthians, right,
Two Corinthians 3:17, that's the whole ball game.
-Two Corinthians,
like it's a sequel to an action movie.
"Who can forget the famous line from 'Two Fast Two Corinthians'
when Vin Diesel said to Jesus,
'Hey, long hair, pop the clutch and let's ride.'"
[ Laughter ]
And then there's the question of Trump's church attendance.
Based on where he spends his Sundays,
it's likely his most common prayer is,
"God, please don't let me hit it in the water."
And according to a Politico article from April,
aside from Trump attending church services
on inauguration day, making an appearance
at the National Prayer Breakfast,
and going to service on Easter...
And that makes sense, because Trump would hate church.
It's an hour of people talking about someone other than him.
"Is this whole thing"--
[ Cheers and applause ]
"Is this whole thing gonna be about Jesus?
Did you know he had zero hotels?
True story.
On the day he was born, he could not get a hotel reservation."
[ Laughter ]
"It's sad."
But still, Trump is trying to take steps
to please his evangelical base.
In May, on the National Day of Prayer,
Trumped signed an executive order on what he called
the promotion of free speech and religious liberty,
which would allow churches and other religious organizations
to become more politically active.
And it provides regulatory relief
for organizations that object to provisions
in the Affordable Care Act,
like including contraception coverage
in workers' health plans.
In fact, during Trump's speech about the executive order,
he invited a group of nuns
who refused to abide by this original rule
and had taken their case all the way to the Supreme Court
up to the podium.
-Come on up here, Sister.
Come on up. Right?
Come on up.
[ Applause ]
-Pleased to meet you.
-Congratulations.
They sort of just won a lawsuit.
That was pretty good.
That's a good way of doing it, huh?
Where are your lawyers? Stand up. Come on. Stand up.
Good job.
You mind if I use your lawyers for various things?
I could use some good lawyers too.
-Only Trump would compliment nuns on their record in court.
[ Laughter ]
"God would have been very proud of how litigious you are."
Such a weird sequencing, too.
Like, "Give it up for the nuns,
but also, the real heroes, their legal team."
And the woman you see behind Trump during that speech
is his spiritual advisor, friend, and pastor, Paula White.
Now, Paula White is a televangelist
who has known Trump for 15 years.
He even invited her
to deliver the invocation on inauguration day.
Now, on the surface, it may not seem like
she and Trump have that much in common,
but like Trump she's been divorced twice
and married three times,
she's been under investigation,
and her former church has filed for bankruptcy protection.
The difference between these two
is like night and later that night.
[ Laughter ]
Now, White has often been criticized
for telling followers that
if they donate money to her ministry,
they will be made wealthy by God.
In fact, reports say that..
And reports say that White has benefited handsomely
from preaching that kind of gospel.
-They live like rock stars
with huge mansions, private jets, and fancy cars.
Their lifestyles are so lavish,
six of them have been investigated
by the U.S. Senate.
Like Paula White.
-I've laid out the gospel very clearly,
and I know that Donald is saved.
-Critics say she preaches the prosperity gospel,
emphasizing material riches over spiritual ones.
-Click on that donation button by minimizing the screen.
-Do you tell them that if they give to you,
they will get financial riches from God?
-Am I gonna say -- I have probably said that.
Okay, here's when I go my 50-year-old self
wouldn't do what my 20- or 30- or 40-year-old self did.
-"To be fair, my 50-year-old self doesn't have to
because my 40-year-old self made a killing."
Now, currently White leads
the New Destiny Christian Center in Florida.
Reports say that...
And that kind of preaching was on full display
during this sermon she gave in 2012
to a predominantly African-American audience
on learning to appreciate their significant others.
And it's a little hard to watch.
-She don't have to do anything.
So every time she does,
"Baby, there ain't nobody that can do like what you do.
This is the best Kraft Macaroni and Cheese out of a box
I have ever tasted."
You gon' wonder why somebody else in five years
has your husband.
You didn't appreciate him.
You let his secretary bring him food at lunchtime.
You let her bring him coffee in the morning.
You let all the other women tell him how good he smells.
And they do.
They tell him how good he smells.
They bring him his lunch on time.
And you don't even notice him when he comes in,
and you still got your funky curlers in your hair
and spinach coming out of your teeth,
and yo' bunny slippers on and wonder what's going on?
Are you serious?
-Whoa.
It's hard to tell what's more offensive,
the insinuation that it's your fault your husband left you
or the appropriation of black idiomatic speech.
Amber?
-It's the black stuff.
[ Laughter ]
[ Cheers and applause ]
-Are you sure?
-Yeah.
[ Laughter ]
-That was gonna be my guess.
Again, this is a woman who's referred to
as Donald Trump's pastor and spiritual adviser.
One member of a religious watchdog organization put it...
Many evangelicals are actually uncomfortable
with Paula White's presence and her gospel.
But that's not stopping evangelicals
from basking in their access to the president.
Who could forget this photo of religious leaders
with their hands on Trump's back praying for him?
At least I think they're praying for him.
It could just as easily be an exorcism.
"I am the best demon.
I have the highest ratings, everyone says so!"
[ Cheers and applause ]
Remember Trump's meandering answer about God
and his real-estate deals and the Pacific Ocean?
Well, that interview was conducted by this guy,
the Christian Broadcasting Network's
chief political correspondent David Brody,
who's co-authoring a new book
on the spiritual life of President Trump.
The title of that book is...
It'll be the first book printed entirely on a Chiclet.
[ Laughter ]
So Trump's surrounding himself
with people who seem to prioritize wealth over faith
while using his friends to convince others
that he himself is a man of deep faith.
In the words of Paula White...
-Are you serious?
-This has been "The Check In."
[ Cheers and applause ]

The Check In: Trump and Religion

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