Without making a scene, President Donald Trump sneaked a handful of dollar bills into the offering plate during a Las Vegas church service Sunday.
There wasn’t much attention drawn to the gesture, but NBC News’ Kelly O’Donnell happened to snap a picture of Trump holding the handful of $20 bills.
Trump, who attended the 9 a.m. service at International Church of Las Vegas with White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany and political adviser Hope Hicks, put the money into a bucket labeled “Change 4 Change,” according to a report from the Washington Examiner.
Pastor Paul Marc Goulet praised the president for his visit to the church.
“This is your third time here,” Goulet said from the pulpit. “That means you’re a church member. I don’t care what anybody says: I love my president.”
On Saturday, Goulet posted a video to his personal Twitter account encouraging congregants to arrive early for Sunday’s service, adding there would be “tons of surprises.”
Trump first visited the Las Vegas church in October 2016 and again in October 2017, following the deadly shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival.
Congregants prayed over Trump, too, during the service. Goulet told him to anticipate a “second wind,” referring to “a second term and a filling of the Holy Spirit.”
“Mr. President, I came to encourage you today, to tell you there’s more with you than against you,” the pastor told Trump. “The Bible says in Ephesians 3:20, ‘And God will do exceedingly, abundantly more than you ask or even think.’ … You’ve chosen to stand for good things; you’ve chosen to use your life for good, Mr. President. Thank God I’ve been privy to some of the things you’re doing behind the scenes that the media won’t talk about. But I need to tell you this right now: heaven has sent His angels to protect you.”
“I’m appealing to heaven right now to bless this president,” he continued. “To bless his bride, Melania, first lady, to bless his children, to bless his children’s children. And it may be a mess right now, sir, but God chose a fighter to straighten this out.”
At the end of Sunday’s service, the president praised the work the pastors have done in the city, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
“I know you’ve had a rough time in terms of the city — has been a tough place — but the job you’ve done to get people back is really very special,” he said. “These are two very special people. Your families are very, very special and you have great talent up there. Thank you all very much.”
Trump ended his comments by encouraging members to vote Nov. 3.