Did Trump Mock Mormons? Report Sheds Light On Views On Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints

President Donald Trump has been the darling of evangelical Christians, largely for his stand against abortion rights and despite his sexual peccadillos and personal lack of piety. But there’s at least one group of Christians for whom he apparently has no respect: Mormons.

The Atlantic reported Trump mocked Mormons in private and blamed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign loss, saying Christians couldn’t get behind someone with such an “exotic” religion.

The Atlantic quoted former Trump aides as saying the president does not have a religious side, and niece Mary Trump said he thinks of the pastors supporting him as “suckers.”

Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, who served jail time for tax evasion and campaign finance violations stemming from his paying hush money to two women who said they had affairs with Trump, said the president was especially fascinated by the undergarments many Mormons wear.

“Oh my God,” Cohen told The Atlantic. “How many times did he bring up Mitt Romney and the undergarments.”

The Atlantic article, written by McKay Coppins, himself a Mormon, noted the Trump campaign has been actively courting Mormons in this campaign cycle. Trump’s eldest son, Don Jr., has been such a convincing campaigner, The Atlantic noted, some Republican officials in Utah wondered if he’s planning to convert.

The Salt Lake Tribune said a spokesman for Donald Trump Jr. had no comment when asked to respond.

The White House has not denied details of the story, saying only the president has a “terrific sense of humor” and champions religious liberty.

The Atlantic report said Trump also called televangelists “hustlers.”

“It is clear that people of faith are only useful to this president as long as they remain a committed voting bloc for his agenda, and enough is enough,” Robert Taber, national director of Latter-day Saints for Biden-Harris, said in a statement released to the Tribune.

“Joe Biden has defended our faith, shown respect to our leaders, and spoken in defense of religious liberty. A Biden administration will unify and heal our country, helping us turn the page on division and hatred.”