“MSNBC Live” host Alex Witt challenged evangelist Franklin Graham over the weekend, asking whether recent claims that President Donald Trump paid off porn star Stormy Daniels to remain quiet about an alleged past affair challenges Graham’s faith in Trump.
READ: Should Haitians Come to the U.S.? Here’s Why One Missionary Says No
“Does that challenge your faith in the president?” MSNBC anchor Alex Witt asked. “Does the president have a sin problem?”
Graham responded by saying that Trump is “not president perfect,” but that he admires the commander-in-chief’s commitment to religious liberty and his protection of Christian Values.
“I can promise you he is not president perfect … he’s not a peffect person, no, and neither am I,” he said. “And we certainly don’t hold him up as the pastor of this country — and he’s not.”
Witt, though, continued to challenge Graham, asking, “If [Trump] were a Democrat, would you be as forgiving?”
Without missing a beat, Graham said that he absolutely would and said that, despite being “targeted” by the Obama administration, he always prayed for President Barack Obama.
“We were targeted by the Obama administration, but that didn’t stop me from praying for the man,” he said, accusing Obama of auditing both The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse — two organizations he runs — over the fact that they wouldn’t support Obama due to the Democrat’s positions on abortion and gay marriage.
“We passed the audits, but it was a great inconvenience,” Graham added.
Graham did indeed encourage Christians to pray for Obama — and on numerous occasions.
“Having just come through a divisive national election, I am urging pastors across this country to lead their congregations in praying daily for our president, Barack Obama … for wisdom, Divine guidance, and that God would accomplish His will and purposes,” Graham said back in 2012. “While politics is noticeably partisan, prayer must never be partisan.”
Watch Graham discuss Trump and “sin” in his most recent MSNBC appearance below:
(H/T: Christian Post)