President Donald Trump told televangelist Pat Robertson in a new interview airing Thursday that he will make it safe to say "Merry Christmas" once he brings America "back."
After Trump decried how the media treats him, Robertson, the "700 Club" host and Christian Broadcasting Network founder, asked the president if he is going to pivot to "take on heavyweights." Trump said that he does not want to take on lightweights and turned to the issue of religious liberty.
"We have to bring our country back. Our country was going in the wrong direction," Trump said. "And by the way, what they were doing to religious liberty: They were destroying religious liberty."
"You will be saying 'Merry Christmas' again very soon," Trump added.
Robertson laughed and said, "We'll count on it."
Trump prefaced his statement by saying that Democrats had been taking the wrong steps to improve the lives of Americans.
"You couldn't build, you couldn't do anything," Trump said.
Trump has criticized the use of "happy holidays" as a substitute for "merry Christmas" on the campaign trail and after being elected. His support among Evangelical Christians has remained high, with many including Robertson praising his appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.