CNN highlights Trump-linked pastor Jentezen Franklin calling himself a “Christian nationalist” at Trump rally

Franklin was at a rally in August and is scheduled to appear on an upcoming prayer call with Trump

Written by Payton Armstrong

Published

In an October 24 segment, CNN highlighted pro-Trump pastor Jentezen Franklin calling himself a “Christian nationalist” at a Trump rally, and correspondent Jeff Zeleny said he didn't know if Franklin had “been at other Trump rallies before.” In fact, Franklin has both recent and longtime connections to former President Donald Trump, including an appearance at a Trump rally in August.

CNN reported that during a Trump rally with Turning Point USA on October 23, pro-Trump pastor Jentezen Franklin declared, “Let's invite God's presence into America and into Georgia and into this election. You can call me a Christian nationalist.”

Host Dana Bash remarked that Christian nationalism “is a huge undercurrent in” Trump’s campaign, with correspondent Jeff Zeleny saying that “it tells you all you need to know.” He added, “I'm not sure the background of that pastor, who said that. I don't know if he's been at other Trump rallies before, but that was certainly one of many eye popping things of the evening.”

From the October 24, 2024, edition of CNN's Inside Politics with Dana Bash

DANA BASH (HOST): I don't want to lose sight of something else that happened at this event, and this is about Christian nationalism.

(CLIP START)

…

JENTEZEN FRANKLIN: Let's invite God's presence into America and into Georgia and into this election. You can call me a Christian nationalist. 

...

(CLIP END)

BASH: Now the beginning was Donald Trump talking about faith, fine. Kamala Harris did it last night. But having a pastor who comes to — Pastor Franklin from the Free Chapel in Georgia — come to this event as he has in the past to Turning Point events, and just be very open about not just faith but Christian nationalism, is a huge undercurrent in this campaign.

JEFF ZELENY (CORRESPONDENT): Without question. And it tells you all you need to know, I mean, from — you mentioned earlier that the Harris campaign is going for one vote at a time. The Trump campaign is as well, with just a very — obviously a different slice of people, but trying to drive the men up even higher. And really, not dog whistles — I mean, it's just like being said out loud. But I was struck this week by how many events that Donald Trump has had to Christian organizations, to Latino organizations, other things. He's not campaigning in a broad sense.

I mean, he's obviously had, you know, tons and tons of big rallies, but this is all sort of just specific groups, and he's doing that next week as well, really trying to drive the turnout of every specific organization.

But I'm not sure the background of that pastor, who said that. I don't know if he's been at other Trump rallies before, but that was certainly one of many eye popping things of the evening.

In fact, Franklin has been closely connected to Trump for years. In August, Franklin gave the opening invocation at a Trump rally and was pictured with both Trump and vice presidential candidate JD Vance, using the invocation to declare the election “a spiritual battle.” 

Trump also apparently promoted Franklin’s church, with Franklin claiming that the promotion brought in "tens of millions of dollars.”

Franklin has reportedly been a “spiritual adviser” to Trump, with his 2016 campaign announcing him and other right-wing evangelicals as part of Trump’s evangelical advisory board.

What’s more, Franklin is listed among the lineup of speakers for a prayer call that Trump is slated to join on October 28 with the National Faith Advisory Board — which is run by Paula White-Cain, who has also been a “spiritual adviser” to Trump. Franklin has participated in at least two National Faith Advisory Board prayer calls with Trump before, including one before his September presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris.

Franklin’s appearance at Trump’s October 23 rally is part of Trump's outreach to right-wing Christians and Trump and his allies’ embrace of extreme prophetic media that claim he is anointed by God. Just two days before the rally, Trump attended the 11th Hour Faith Leaders event — which featured so-called “prophets” in right-wing media.