WASHINGTON — Under fire even from some Republicans, Donald Trump delivered a second-straight set speech on Friday in a bid to win support from evangelical voters for his fall battle against Hillary Clinton.
“We will restore faith to its proper mantle in our society … we will respect and defend Christian Americans,” Trump told members of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, a group of religious and social conservatives meeting in the nation’s capital.
As he did Tuesday in marking the end of Republican primaries, Trump avoided the free-wheeling rhetorical style of his rallies; instead, he delivered a short speech from a teleprompter in which he outlined his campaign themes while delivering a harsh attack on his Democratic opponent, Clinton.
A second Clinton presidency will lead to “radical judges,” an “open borders” immigration policy and a bigger federal government that will raise taxes and try to exercise more control over people’s lives, Trump said.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee also accused the former secretary of State of using personal emails “to hide her corrupt dealings,” and said that she and former president Bill Clinton have used public office to extract wealth from various donors.
“These donors own Hillary Clinton — they own her,” Trump told a cheering crowd, adding: “The bottom line is, I will be working for you.”
The New York businessman also bashed President Obama for endorsing Clinton even though her use of a private email server while at the State Department is the subject of a Justice Department investigation, calling it a historic first.
Clinton, speaking at another Washington hotel less than 10 minutes away, told a Planned Parenthood conference that a Trump presidency would threaten the civil rights of all Americans, especially women.
Trump “would take us in the wrong direction in so many issues we care about,” Clinton said: “Economic justice, workers’ rights, civil rights, human rights, the environment. All of that is on the line in this election.”
In making his appeal to religious voters — a key bloc for any Republican candidate — Trump pledged to honor “the sanctity and dignity of life,” promote “marriage and family,” and defend Israel. He promised to appoint conservative judges — including for the current vacancy on the Supreme Court — and to defeat “radical Islamic terrorism.”
Later Friday, Trump addressed another crowd in Richmond, Va., on his way to Tampa. Trump told the crowd he may have sports champions speak at the convention rather than politicians, because “our country needs to see winners.”
He told the half-full Richmond Coliseum that he plans to amend his “Make America Great Again” slogan: “I’m adding ‘For Everyone,’ because it’s really for everyone.”
Protesters gathered outside, but there were no disruptions inside the arena. Trump did not make a reference to the controversy over his comments questioning the fairness of a judge of Mexican descent.
Trump, who held private meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, did make a few impromptu remarks in responding to protesters who interrupted his Friday speech on two occasions.
“It’s amazing,” Trump said at one point. “It’s amazing what goes on … Freedom of speech, please.”
Describing the protesters as “professional agitators” who were “sent here by the other party,” Trump said, “What’s happened in our country is so sad … we are so divided.”
Trump’s party remains divided over his candidacy, especially since his attacks on the federal judge overseeing a fraud case against Trump University with claims that he is biased because of his “Mexican heritage.”
One Republican senator — Mark Kirk of Illinois — has withdrawn his endorsement of Trump, and a number of GOP lawmakers have not endorsed him at all.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also speaking to the Faith & Freedom Coalition, made several references to the presidential election and how the winner can influence the economy and the Supreme Court — but did not cite Trump by name.
