'The atheists, globalists and Marxists': Trump attempts to sway skeptical evangelicals

Former President Donald Trump is determined to win over the evangelical vote come 2024.

During the Faith & Freedom Coalition gala in DC Saturday, the recently indicted MAGA hopeful insisted he's the right candidate due to his stance on abortion, the New York Times reports.

Per the Times, Trump highlighted "his appointment of three of the six justices who voted to strike down the law as a capstone of his presidency," painting "himself as an unflinching crusader for the Christian right in a meandering speech that lasted nearly 90 minutes."

READ MORE: GOP presidential hopefuls pursue white evangelical support — while fearing pro-choice voters: report

The former president said, "Save the babies, and we will save America," noting, "As the old book says, that many more are with us than are with them."

He insisted, "No president has ever fought for Christians as hard as I have. I got it done, and nobody thought it was even a possibility. Together, we're warriors in a righteous crusade to stop the arsonists, the atheists, globalists and the Marxists," telling the audience, "You have power for the first time."

A report published by the Washington Post Friday pointed to "the influence that far-right white evangelicals are having on the 2024 GOP presidential primary — especially when it comes to abortion."

However, according to the report, "even as Mr. Trump has highlighted his role in the right's fight to end abortion rights, he has repeatedly sidestepped questions about whether he would sign a federal abortion ban if Republicans managed to steer one through the divided Congress."

READ MORE: Iowa evangelical leader wants Republicans to 'turn the page' on Donald Trump: report

Reporters Maeve Reston and Marianne LeVine wrote, "(Donald Trump)'s courtship of evangelical leaders, as reflected in the two conversations, illustrates the outsize influence Christian conservatives hold in determining the next Republican nominee.

They emphasized, "Some evangelical leaders see an opening for a Trump alternative, given his reluctance to publicly commit to a 15-week abortion ban and his statement earlier this year about midterm losses," adding, "His insistence that future abortion bans should be determined by the states post-Roe sparked a backlash from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which initially, called it a 'morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate.'"

Although David Porter, an anti-abortion activist from Virginia said Trump is his "guy right now," he also expressed some skepticism regarding where Trump stands on a federal ban.

"Either you stand for what you believe in or you don't," he said.

READ MORE: Are evangelicals distancing from Trump?

The New York Times' full report is available at this link (subscription required).