Author: Nandita Bose and Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump delivered a freewheeling speech at the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Thursday, defending three members of his cabinet whose behavior has been closely scrutinized and touting U.S. military might.
Trump often strayed from the teleprompter in his remarks to religious leaders and lawmakers, pushing themes of law and order and American strength overseas in a speech he could have delivered at his ubiquitous political rallies.
He warned Hamas militants in Gaza to disarm or face consequences, promoted first lady Melania Trump’s new documentary and praised El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who supports the construction of a massive prison called CEGOT where the United States is sending hundreds of mostly Venezuelan migrants.
In one of his few religious references, he quoted the Bible verse “Blessed are the pure in heart” and wondered if he qualified. “I’m not sure if that necessarily applies to me,” he said. “Does this work for me? I’ll try.”
He also reflected on his chances of going to heaven, saying “I really think I probably should make it,” while noting that he’s “not a perfect candidate.”
Trump has resisted calls to fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who faced criticism after federal officers shot and killed two Americans protesting Trump’s tough immigration deportation policies in Minnesota.
“Why would I do this?” he said, praising Noem’s law enforcement and crime-fighting efforts on the U.S. southern border.
The backlash over the killings of Renee Goode and Alex Pretty in Minneapolis prompted Trump to appoint White House border czar Tom Homan to replace Noem in charge of operations in Minnesota. Trump told NBC News on Wednesday that “softer engagement” is needed there.
Trump also defended his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, who attended an FBI raid on an election facility in Georgia as part of Trump’s ongoing quest to cast doubt on the votes he lost to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
Courts, state governments and members of Trump’s previous administration have all rejected claims of voting fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
Gabbard, whose positions often involve threats from abroad, wrote in a letter to lawmakers on Monday that she observed FBI agents serving a search warrant in Atlanta’s Fulton County and remained there for “a brief period of time.”
“She did a great job,” Trump said of Gabbard, suggesting Russia played a role in tampering with the election.
He also praised Attorney General Pam Bondi, who he said sent Gabbard to Atlanta.
“Pam wanted her to,” he said.
Trump expressed joy at events in Venezuela after the U.S. military kidnapped and arrested President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas last month and seized control of the country’s oil.
He said he was now working with acting President Delcy Rodriguez and said he was “getting along very well” with Venezuela.
Trump, who has amassed a massive military force in the Middle East and could launch an attack on Iran, has praised U.S. strength. army.
“We have an army of guys who all look like Tom Cruise, only bigger,” he said.
(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Steve Holland; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Alistair Bell)
