Chris Cuomo claims Trump is trying to 'con Christians' with religious photo ops

Chris Cuomo isn’t buying President Trump’s recent photo ops at Christian landmarks in Washington, D.C. On Monday, as Trump was preparing to make a statement in the Rose Garden, in which he spoke of using the military to “dominate” protesters across the country, authorities violently beat back peaceful protesters, including the use of tear gas, so Trump could get his picture taken with a Bible in front of nearby St. John’s Church. Trump was widely condemned for the move, including from the bishop of the D.C. Episcopal Diocese, Mariann Budde, who accused Trump of using the Bible and the church as props. Cuomo referred to it as a “fraudulent photo op.”

On Tuesday, the president and first lady Melania Trump posed for pictures in front of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine. Washington’s Roman Catholic Archbishop Wilton Gregory responded much in the same way as Bishop Budde, saying, “I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles, which call us to defend the rights of all people, even those with whom we might disagree.”

Cuomo claims Trump isn’t doing all of this as a show of his faith, but in an attempt to trick Christians when he needs their support most. While speaking, Cuomo showed results of a recent poll showing Trump’s support dropping among evangelicals, Catholics and Protestants.

“He goes to church, not to show his faith, but to merely con Christians,” Cuomo said. “But even those poll numbers are dropping. Maybe they’re finally seeing that a man who wants people of faith to stand against those seeking justice is a man who is anathema to Christ’s message. That this man may hold the good book in his hand, but he does not hold its message in his heart.”

Cuomo Prime Time airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on CNN.

Watch the ‘outraged’ D.C. bishop slam Trump for his church photo op:

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