In 2015, businessman and long-shot presidential contender Donald Trump came to the Values Voter Summit like he was interviewing for a job in an unfamiliar field, toting a childhood Bible, mocking teleprompters and getting some boos when he called GOP Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida a "clown."
Last year at the same gathering of religious conservatives, Trump's discussion of God took a back seat to attacks on his Democratic competitor, Hillary Clinton, as he entered the final stages of a successful White House campaign.
But this year, President Trump sounded like he was at home. The thrice-married former casino owner is not a natural fit for the Values Voter crowd. Yet on Friday, he won several standing ovations and fawning accolades from a group that, unlike other parts of the Republican base, has been seeing some of its agenda items enacted by the Trump administration.
"We cherish the sacred dignity of every human life. We believe in strong families and safe communities. We honor the dignity of work," said Trump, the first sitting president to speak before the annual conference.
"The American founders invoked our Creator four times in the Declaration of Independence – four times, " he later added. "How times have changed. But you know what? Now they're changing back again."
Last year at the same gathering of religious conservatives, Trump's discussion of God took a back seat to attacks on his Democratic competitor, Hillary Clinton, as he entered the final stages of a successful White House campaign.
But this year, President Trump sounded like he was at home. The thrice-married former casino owner is not a natural fit for the Values Voter crowd. Yet on Friday, he won several standing ovations and fawning accolades from a group that, unlike other parts of the Republican base, has been seeing some of its agenda items enacted by the Trump administration.
"We cherish the sacred dignity of every human life. We believe in strong families and safe communities. We honor the dignity of work," said Trump, the first sitting president to speak before the annual conference.
"The American founders invoked our Creator four times in the Declaration of Independence – four times, " he later added. "How times have changed. But you know what? Now they're changing back again."
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