Evangelical leaders are planning a meeting with Donald Trump amidst ongoing revelations about his past affair with Stormy Daniels and Republican worries about November’s elections. “We’re very concerned” about the Stormy story, said one source identified by NPR as “a leader of a faith-based ministry” who is involved in planning the June meeting. But is what they’re concerned about what Trump’s actions say about him ... or that Republican voters might stay home in November?
It looks like the latter. Sure, a few evangelical leaders might quietly tut-tut about Trump having unprotected sex with Daniels while his wife was home with a new baby—or an affair with former Playboy model Karen McDougal while Melania was pregnant—but the real concern here is the midterm elections:
"It is a concern of ours that 2018 could be very detrimental to some of the other issues that we hold dear," like religious liberty and restricting abortion rights, the source noted. The source, like the others with knowledge of the event, spoke to NPR on the condition of anonymity so as to not jeopardize the meeting.
Relatively few prominent Christian right leaders are even making noises about Trump’s behavior, though they might claim anonymously that it’s an issue. But others—who aren’t afraid to be quoted by name—aren’t worried:
Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, also said it's "highly dubious" that the allegations will substantially erode the president's support or suppress midterm turnout.
Oh, and by the way. This big evangelical meeting with Trump will happen at Trump’s Washington, D.C., hotel. Just to show how very independent they are.