Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, President Donald Trump raised eyebrows in a statement about American greatness.
While crediting faith leaders for the last century of social progress in the United States, the president said that one of the greatest achievements has been the “abolition of civil rights."
“Since the founding of our nation, many of our greatest strides, from gaining our independence to abolition of civil rights, to extending the vote for women, have been led by people of faith and started in prayer,” Trump said. “When we open our hearts to faith we fill our hearts with love.”
Watch below:
According to reports following the event, the president's script mentioned "abolition of slavery and civil rights," though he clearly omitted the first part.
Weird, huh.
The slip came only two days after Trump said he never makes gaffes.
"I hope it’s Biden,” Trump said on Tuesday of the potential 2020 matchup. “Biden was never very smart. He was a terrible student. His gaffes are unbelievable. When I say something that you might think is a gaffe, it’s on purpose; it’s not a gaffe. When Biden says something dumb, it’s because he’s dumb.”
Quite the Freudian slip.
Is the president okay?
Some, however, think the president's comment was accurate.
They pointed out that many civil rights have been withheld or abolished citing religious grounds.
Actions the administration has taken, including locking children in cages, speak to the intent of Trump's flock. And, given that the crusades against equality, voting rights, access to health care, and women's right to chose, for example, are all led by right-wingers like Vice President Mike Pence claiming to be people of faith.
Maybe his base should reexamine their bibles.
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