Trump Oval Office Prayer Photo Draws Mixed Reactions

A photograph of President Donald Trump praying with a group of evangelical leaders in the Oval Office was met with mixed feelings from the public Wednesday. The photo was posted by religious freedom advocate Johnnie Moore and included Vice President Mike Pence. In it, Trump could be seen surrounded by the leaders, heads bowed in prayer.

“Such an honor to pray within the Oval Office for @POTUS & @VP,” Moore’s tweet said.

Florida televangelist and Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne also posted the photo to his social media accounts. Others who could be seen in the Oval Office that day included Michelle Bachmann, former Republican congresswoman, and Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas.

“We similarly prayed for President Obama but it’s different with President Trump,” said Moore, according to CNN. “When we are praying for President Trump, we are praying within the context of a real relationship, of true friendship.”

The evangelical leaders pictured in the photo reflected Trump’s strong evangelical base that helped him clinch the election: 81 percent of white evangelicals voted for the candidate in the 2016 election, according to Pew Research.

The photo, however, garnered mixed reviews. Some praised the photo and what it showed, while others condemned it as an affront to the separation of church and state in the United States.

“Heartwarming to see our President being receiving prayers in the Oval Office,” one person tweeted.

Another user took issue with the photo in a simple five-word tweet: “Separation of church and state…”

Still others were angered by the fact that someone photographed the prayer session.

“Matthew 6:6 says when you pray you should do so behind closed doors and in secret,” said one user. “I guess Matthew 6:7 must say ‘but then also tweet about it’”

“’And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray… (on twitter)… to be seen by others’ Matt 6:5,” another person tweeted.