RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM
‘Spiritual Warfare’: First Family Honors Dozens of Top Anti-Gay Activists at White House ‘State Dinner’

It was wonderful to host Evangelical leaders at the @WhiteHouse tonight. pic.twitter.com/8R4jC6VVJr
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) August 28, 2018
President Donald Trump, along with the First Lady and First Daughter, Monday evening paid tribute to about 100 of the nation’s most prominent Evangelicals – many of whom also happen to be some of the nation’s top anti-LGBT activists. Also present were Vice President and Mrs. Pence, Kellyanne Conway, and Sarah Sanders.
Honored to join @POTUS & @FLOTUS tonight at the @WhiteHouse to celebrate strong and inspiring evangelical leadership. This administration stands for protecting religious liberty for all & is grateful to faith leaders for their tireless service to their neighbors & communities. pic.twitter.com/jBx9a8TMI1
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) August 28, 2018
Pictures from White House evangelical dinner tonight. @CBNNews @POTUS @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/fXeZ4YK09j
— David Brody (@TheBrodyFile) August 27, 2018
While the White House did not publish a list of attendees, in his speech the president specifically thanked anti-gay hate group leader Tony Perkins along with anti-LGBT activists Franklin Graham, Paula White, Alveda King, Jerry Falwell, Darrell Scott, megachurch pastor and Fox News pundit Robert Jeffress, Faith & Freedom Coalition’s Ralph Reed, and Focus On The Family founder James Dobson.
Also in attendance, as documented in news reports and in photos posted to social media, were Eric Metaxas, Greg Laurie, and Gary Bauer. Bauer served before Perkins as the president of the Family Research Council.
Metaxas posted several photos to Twitter:
Dinner with some friends. pic.twitter.com/BEbDGhvCJq
— Eric Metaxas (@ericmetaxas) August 27, 2018
I’m just a fly on the wall here. But the food is amazing! pic.twitter.com/PLE6pNTs7n
— Eric Metaxas (@ericmetaxas) August 27, 2018
Member of Trump’s Evangelical leadership advisory board Johnnie Moore also posted photos, including one showing Ivanka Trump and another showing Jared Kushner at the dinner:
A beautiful, memborable evening @WhiteHouse celebrating the contribution of evangelicals to American life. pic.twitter.com/OcxUlFjaVF
— Johnnie Moore ن (@JohnnieM) August 28, 2018
Religion reporter and pundit David Brody of Pat Robertson’s CBN notes the President and First Lady were presented with a Bible signed by over 100 Evangelicals, thanking them for “the price you have paid to walk in the high calling.”
At tonight’s White House evangelical dinner, Paula White presents a Bible to @POTUS and @FLOTUS , signed by over 100 Christians and inscribed with a quote. Read here. @CBNNews @WhiteHouse @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/YgMkHwwnsR
— David Brody (@TheBrodyFile) August 28, 2018
And Michele Bachmann was part of the evening’s festivities:
.@robertjeffress with @IvankaTrump and @MicheleBachmann at @WhiteHouse evangelical dinner. @CBNNews @POTUS @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/kEzakLvIMs
— David Brody (@TheBrodyFile) August 28, 2018
Megachurch Ppstor Jim Garlow, who has spent decades attacking LGBT people, is seen here posing with Ivanka Trump:
.@IvankaTrump with Pastor Jim Garlow tonight at the White House evangelical dinner. @CBNNews @realDonaldTrump @JimGarlow @WhiteHouse @POTUS pic.twitter.com/tWux3MgucQ
— David Brody (@TheBrodyFile) August 28, 2018
Here’s how Garlow talks about LGBT people:
A video of @IvankaTrump‘s companion at tonight’s Trump “Evangelical Christian” dinner.
Ivanka picked a vile whopper with Garlow.
Jim Garlow says marriage equality is a demonic happening in our midst.
Garlow says “they” want to destroy God’s image. pic.twitter.com/KboYR7YjnP
— ☇RiotWomenn☇ (@riotwomennn) August 28, 2018
Brody breaks the facade of “Javanka’s” supposed liberal and pro-equality beliefs, writing, “Don’t underestimate the role that Ivanka and Jared have played in the evangelical orbit. It’s been substantial. Evangelical leaders close to the WH have embraced them fully.”
And here’s Franklin Graham, another Evangelical who has spent decades attacking LGBT people and actively working to oppose their rights:
Franklin Graham speaks at the big evangelical dinner at the White House tonight. @realDonaldTrump @Franklin_Graham @POTUS @CBNNews @WhiteHouse pic.twitter.com/xnKdenc2GS
— David Brody (@TheBrodyFile) August 28, 2018
“We need to maintain our vigilance in the upcoming days,” Graham told attendees. “The concern is that this is a spiritual warfare, this is a battle and ultimately battle is won on our knees.”
Image: Dan Scavino/Twitter
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