Trump’s key spiritual adviser reportedly will join the White House
WASHINGTON — Florida televangelist Paula White, who has informally advised President Donald Trump on spiritual matters, will join his administration in an official capacity, according to a senior administration official and another person familiar with the move.
White, who already helps to coordinate Trump’s evangelical outreach to key leaders, will be a religious adviser in the Office of Public Liaison, the part of the White House overseeing outreach to groups seen as part of Trump’s base.
The move appears to formalize a relationship that has been years in the making, going back nearly two decades when White and Trump first met.
White was one of six clergy who prayed at Trump’s inauguration, and other evangelical advisers say she speaks with Trump regularly.
She is known as one of the most prominent televangelists who teach a prosperity gospel, that God will reward believers with wealth and health, a teaching that many Christians believe is heretical.
Trump’s 2016 campaign had an advisory council of mostly white evangelical leaders during his campaign, many of whom have continued to serve as unofficial advisers.
The change was first reported Friday by the New York Times.
It is unclear whether White, 53, will be paid in her new role.
Past presidents, including Barack Obama and George W. Bush, set up formal councils on faith-based and community partnerships, but Trump has not made that same faith-based council structure a key priority in his administration.
Instead, Trump’s evangelical advisory board is an informal gathering of religious leaders who supported the president during his campaign and continue to receive invitations to the White House regularly.
After providing their support early on, the group has been rewarded with invitations to dinners and consultations.
Trump has pleased many evangelical leaders with his nomination of Supreme Court justices, his antiabortion policies and his inclusion of evangelicals in his own administration, including Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
A group of leaders met with Trump last week and prayed for him. Evangelical leaders who were there included James Dobson, Ralph Reed and Tony Perkins, and White was seated at Trump’s right hand.