Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. said the Liberty United Against Trump student group is purporting to represent a greater percentage of the student body than it actually does.
On Wednesday, the student group wrote, “In the months since Jerry Falwell Jr. endorsed him, Donald Trump has been inexorably associated with Liberty University … Donald Trump does not represent our values and we want nothing to do with him. A majority of Liberty students, faculty, and staff feel as we do. Donald Trump received a pitiful 90 votes from Liberty students in Virginia’s primary election, a colossal rejection of his campaign.”
Falwell released a statement Thursday evening celebrating the school’s free expression of ideas, but denouncing how the group has made use of that freedom.
“It is true that Donald Trump lost in the Virginia primary at Liberty’s precinct when there were many Republican candidates still in the race but, when Mike Pence spoke to many thousands of students at Liberty yesterday, he was applauded when he spoke of the importance of supporting Donald Trump for president,” Falwell wrote. “In fact, he received five standing ovations during his speech.”
Falwell’s second point hit on the group’s claim that a majority of its student body opposes the Republican nominee.
“The group of students now speaking out against Trump represents a very small percentage of the Liberty student body of 15,000 resident students and 90,000 online students. The group — led by a never Trump activist, I am told — claims to have between 200 and 1200 signatures on a petition but admits that many of these signatories are not Liberty students,” Falwell said.
Finally, ending on a personal wrote, the evangelical leader told students and faculty he has the right to endorse a presidential candidate and in doing so, also has not abused that right.
“The student statement also falsely claims that I am ‘touring the country’ and associating Liberty University with Trump. The fact is I traveled with the Trump campaign only one weekend in January and I always make it clear to the media that my endorsement of Trump is my personal endorsement only and that I am not speaking for Liberty University, its students, faculty or staff,” Falwell said. “I am only fulfilling my obligation as a citizen to ‘render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s’ by expressing my personal opinion about who I believe is best suited to lead our nation in a time of crisis.”
