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Trump policies fire up evangelicals but divide Middle East Christians

The US president is highlighting Middle East policies championed by American Christians as he seeks to energize his evangelical base ahead of next month’s elections.
U.S. President Donald Trump closes his eyes in prayer along with Pastor Andrew Brunson, after his release from two years of Turkish detention, in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, U.S., October 13, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Theiler     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC18ECD30AF0

With President Donald Trump’s support among evangelicals sliding ahead of next month’s mid-term elections, the White House is seeking to energize the Republican base by highlighting his administration’s special treatment of Middle Eastern Christians and Israel.

Shortly after a Reuters poll last month revealed that Trump’s approval among white evangelicals had fallen from 73% at the beginning of his presidency to 62% in August, Vice President Mike Pence warned a crowd of fellow evangelical Christians that they must surpass “the energy of the American left and their enthusiasm and passion” as Democrats threaten Republican control of Congress.

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