Responding to a question about evangelical Christians' response to impeachment efforts in the U.S. House of Representatives, Jeffress said Democrats are only seeking to impeach Trump because he defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016.
"That's the unpardonable sin for which the Democrats will never forgive him," Jeffress said. "And I do want to make this prediction this morning: If the Democrats are successful in removing the president from office, I'm afraid it will cause a civil war-like fracture in this nation from which this country will never heal."
Take a look at the video, courtesy of Media Matters for America:
The quote drew more attention than it might have otherwise when Trump tweeted it Sunday afternoon. The statement itself, and the tweets that followed, drew rebukes not only from Democrats, but from some in Trump's own party. On Sunday evening, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican from Illinois, called the quote "beyond repugnant."
This isn't the first time Jeffress has made the rounds on conservative shows to defend Trump. On an episode of conservative radio personality Todd Starnes' show last February, Jeffress said Christians who oppose Trump are "spineless morons."I have visited nations ravaged by civil war. @realDonaldTrump I have never imagined such a quote to be repeated by a President. This is beyond repugnant. https://t.co/a5Bae7bP7g
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) September 30, 2019
"Let me say this as charitably as I can,” Jeffress said. “These ‘Never Trump’ evangelicals are morons. They are absolutely spineless morons, and they cannot admit that they were wrong.”