- ‘Born-again’ Rep. Maria Salzar says Trump believes God spared his life
- She spoke to someone ‘very close’ to the former president
The brush with death that could have had him killed by an assassin’s bullet has left former President Donald Trump a ‘changed man,’ a Florida lawmaker who has been in contact with his inner circle says.
Rep. Maria Salazar (R), a self-described born-again Christian, said she spoke to a person ‘very close’ to Trump about his awakening – which she says has been apparent to people close to him.
‘He believes that God has given him another opportunity. He believes that God spared his life and that he is a – I’m not sure if spiritual is the word or the adjective. I’m not sure if it’s more contemplative. But I do know that he is a different man,’ she told DailyMail.com Tuesday.
Salazar, a Miami lawmaker who is part of the GOP leadership’s whip team, noted the impression Trump made on people on the convention floor, with apparent changes in his demeanor when he was inside the convention hall surrounded by admirers while sporting a large white bandage on his wounded ear.
Trump ‘closed his eyes and he prayed the whole time’ during the benediction, she said.
‘That changes you as a person,’ she said of the attempt on his life. ‘And when you change as a person internally because somehow the powers of heaven have touched you, then you start leading a different life … This is like BC and AD.’
Donald Trump is a ‘changed man’ said Rep. Maria Salazar (R-Fla.), who is herself a born-again Christian and says she spoke to someone close to him
She spoke after attending an event hosted by Axios at the Republican convention, where she said God spoke to Trump and gave him a ‘second opportunity’ to unify the nation.
She reflected after Donald Trump, Jr. described the impact of the attack on himself and on his father.
Trump Jr. predicted the event would have a lasting effect on his father.
‘There’s events that change you for a couple minutes, and there’s events that change you permanently,’ he said at the event.
Trump has long enjoyed an important relationship with evangelical voters, who helped propel him to his strong finish in Iowa in 2016 and sent him on his way to the nomination.
The thrice-married Trump brandished the Bible at campaign events, but has not shown deep outward familiarity with religious texts. He put deeply religious Mike Pence on the ticket in part to reassure evangelical voters, then stocked the courts with pro-life judges.
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) said Trump experienced the kind of event that changes someone ‘permenantly’
Delegates prayed on the floor of the GOP Convention on a night when Trump appeared with a bandage on his wounded ear
Delegates prayed for Trump during a benediction on Monday
He also famously held a bible upside down after government officials cleared Lafayette Square across from the White House amid George Floyd protests.
Trump and his team have called for national unity following the shooting, and Trump as well as several convention speakers have said they have changed their speeches to reflect the new tone.
Trump was getting unity from his delegates even before the attempt on his life – and even after jettisoning abortion language that had been in the party platform for years.
It is yet to be seen whether Trump will turn the other cheek on his political enemies, having vowed ‘retribution’ against those who went after him in his New York fraud, hush money, classified documents, and January 6 cases.
Trump showed emotion Monday night when Pastor James Ramsey delivered the benediction – after a quick Trump impression that drew a smile from the subject.
He called for the lord to ‘save us from violence, discord and confusion, from pride and arrogance and from every evil course of action.’
‘Thanks to you for keeping President Trump safe,’ he said. ‘Pray for the families of those affected by the demonic violence at the rally Saturday.’