Foster Friess, a billionaire GOP donor, is comparing Donald Trump to prominent biblical figures in an effort to get others to board the Trump train.
In a letter to his supporters, Friess wrote about how he would counsel a “principled evangelical Christian woman” to back Trump, despite her concerns about his moral character.
“[A]ll throughout history, God has harnessed imperfect people to fulfill his perfect will,” Friess wrote before citing examples. “King David sent Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, off to the front lines in hopes he would be killed so David could play cozy with the guy’s wife.”
Friess bankrolled Rick Santorum’s failed presidential campaigns in 2012 and 2016 and is also a friend of Ben Carson. But he decided to support Trump financially after his fellow billionaire became the GOP’s presumptive nominee. In his letter to his supporters, Friess appears to explain this by saying, “You and I are changing and so is Donald Trump.”
“I do believe Donald Trump truly loves America and all it stands for,” Friess wrote. “His courage of expressing what he believes is best for us caused Universal Studios, Univision and Macy’s to sever business ties with him.”
He continued, “The price he is paying and the attacks from Establishment Republicans seems to only add to his growing stature as a ‘folk hero.'”
Whether Friess’ words of encouragement will persuade evangelicals — or other conservative donors — to back Trump remains to be seen, but Trump’s struggle to raise cash after “self-funding” his primary campaign is well-documented.
