GAINESVILLE, Ga. -- The controversy over President Donald Trump’s comments last week about immigration is intensifying.
In Gainesville, a prominent conservative leader and a member of the president’s own evangelical advisory board, Pastor Jentezen Franklin, is rejecting the president’s stance.
President Trump’s controversial comments on immigration have fractured the conservative members of his evangelical advisory board.
At Free Chapel in Gainesville, during Sunday morning services, Franklin made it clear to his multicultural congregation -- which includes Latinos and immigrants -- where he stands.
“I don’t agree with what the President said this week. It was wrong what he said. I say that respectfully. There’s no nations that are trash. And I’m putting it kind, what he said. There’s no people in those nations that are worthless,” Franklin said.
Franklin did not say whether he would leave the advisory board in protest.
But in an interview with 11Alive’s Cheryl Preheim this past March, Franklin said he considers himself a voice for the immigrants in his congregation and community, a voice the President needs to hear.
“Those of us who have been given the responsibility of leadership need to be a voice of compassion. Because these people matter. They’re not throw-a-ways. They matter," he told Preheim. “I’m here to speak for what I know is truth.”
But another member of the advisory board, South Carolina Pastor Mark Burns, is tweeting in defense of the president and posted a video on his Twitter feed saying the focus should be on making sure immigration policies protect and improve the American economy.
"Focusing on Donald Trump and the focus on the fact that you think he’s racist or you think he made some comments, that’s foolish, it is ignorant. It solves no problems," Burns said.
11Alive News has not been able to reach the White House for comment on the reactions from his evangelical advisory board, and when the president will meet again with the advisors to hear from them directly.
