Evangelicals Declare Trump A Friend Of The Jews
President Trump receives the Friends of Zion award, December 11, 2017 Image by white house
By Nathan Guttman December 12, 2017
Continuing his victory lap after recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, President Trump hosted a group of Christian evangelical leaders in the Oval Office, to receive the “Friends of Zion” award.
“We believe no American president in history has done more to defend the Jewish people in the United Nations,” Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion Museum, said of Trump. The Friends of Zion Museum, located in Jerusalem, was established by evangelical groups and highlights the contribution of Christians to Israel and the Jewish people. The award has been given in the past to President George W. Bush, Prince Albert of Monaco, and former Bulgarian president Roman Plevneliev.
Speaking outside the White House after the award ceremony, which was closed to the press, members of the organization praised Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and begin work to move the U.S. embassy to the city. “He is an anomaly because he keeps his promises,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council. “Evangelicals, conservatives across this country are grateful for the fact that he has actually done exactly what he campaigned on.”
Contact Nathan Guttman at [email protected] or on Twitter @nathanguttman
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
