President Donald Trump praised the IRS decision permitting churches to endorse political candidates, saying it allows them to “speak up.”
“I love the fact that churches could endorse a political candidate,” Trump said on Wednesday at the White House. “If somebody of faith wants to endorse, I think it’s something that I’d like to hear.”
The IRS said earlier this week religious places of worship could endorse political hopefuls, lifting a ban dating back to 1954 on campaigning by tax-exempt non profit groups. The agency made the move in a court filing as part of a settlement effort. A lawsuit had been brought by two churches in Texas and a group of Christian broadcasters that had challenged the 1954 ruling known as the Johnson amendment.
In court filings, the agency said it would not view political endorsements as campaigning but more so a private affair.
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Trump, who scores well with evangelical voters, unsuccessfully tried to end the ban during his first term, and was thrilled with the news that it is now gone.
“Those people were not allowed to speak up. Now they’re allowed to speak up,” he said. “I think it’s terrific.”
Annabella Rosciglione contributed to this report.