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  • 2 days ago
In a press briefing on Wednesday, President Donald Trump was asked about the new rule that allows churches to endorse political candidates.
Transcript
00:00A lot of people that came into the country that shouldn't be here.
00:02Mr. President, Mr. President.
00:04Yes, please.
00:04So two questions, one on tariffs, the other on the IRS.
00:08On tariffs, China is reportedly softening their impact on U.S. tariffs in Africa,
00:15announcing last month that they would halt charges on imports for nearly all of its African partners.
00:21Does this move by China influence your thinking, your approach to tariffs on the continent?
00:26Well, we treat Africa great in many different ways, including with tariffs.
00:30But, you know, parts of Africa charge us tremendous tariffs, as you know,
00:36and they're going to be dropping those tariffs.
00:38They've already informed me they're going to be dropping those tariffs.
00:40But we treat Africa far better than China or anybody else, anyplace else.
00:45And on the IRS, the IRS says that churches can now endorse political candidates.
00:51What's your reaction to this?
00:52And how do you expect this to influence some of the work that's afoot on the continent?
00:58There's a lot of American churches that are missionaries, doing missionary work on the continent.
01:04Do you support that?
01:05I love the fact that churches can endorse a political candidate.
01:10I think so, because we have a lot of respect for the people that lead the church,
01:14for the pastors and the ministers and the rabbis and the all different leaders,
01:21all different religions, and people respect those people.
01:24And I think there's nothing wrong.
01:26You know, it was a very big penalty if that took place just a little while ago.
01:31They had a thing called the Johnson Act, and it was a very big penalty.
01:34I think it's great if a pastor, minister, priest, rabbi, and we could very much go into your religion, by the way,
01:44which is something that people are having great respect for throughout the world.
01:48If somebody of faith wants to endorse, I think it's something that I'd like to hear.
01:54And I'd also, I can guarantee you, the people that they're with every Saturday or Sunday,
02:01or whatever it is they're with, they want to hear from these people.
02:04And it was a very severe penalty.
02:06Those people were not allowed to speak up.
02:08Now they're allowed to speak up.
02:10No, I think it's terrific.
02:11Mr. President, your administration took new action.
02:14Mr. President, your administration took new action.

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