Former President Trump delivered the keynote address at a major Christian conference on Saturday as he continues to court social conservatives ahead of formally accepting the Republican presidential nomination in July. The Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Conference, held at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., saw Trump speak to a large crowd, marking his ninth appearance at the faith-based event.
Before his speech, Trump released a video from his private plane, “Trump Force One,” announcing his rapid speed journey to the conference. The event, hosted annually by the Faith and Freedom Coalition, is the largest public policy gathering of conservative Christian activists in the U.S. and focuses on policy issues important to voters of faith leading up to the 2024 election.
Ralph Reed, the founder and chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, highlighted the desire among social conservatives for a federal ban on abortion and for elected officials to strongly advocate for pro-life views. Despite Trump’s previous stance on allowing individual states to regulate abortion, his appointment of three Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade has earned him favor among evangelical voters.
Other prominent speakers at the conference included Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty. Youngkin, Noem, Carson, and Gabbard have been mentioned as potential running mates for Trump, adding an element of competition for approval on stage.
The event served as a platform for potential running mates to showcase their support for Trump and his policies as the Republican National Convention approaches. The conference highlighted the significance of social conservative issues in the upcoming election and the role they will play in shaping the Republican Party’s platform.
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