washington president donald trump bow head oval office early month texas southern baptist pastor robert jeffress u.s. religious leaders lay hand trump back pray hurricane harvey victims tv cameras reporters watch scene powerful reminder one trump reliable improbable political assets close tie conservative christians new reuters/ipsos poll show however trump popularity among white evangelicals weaken suggest grassroots support may unconditional religious leaders public display allegiance would suggest may pose problem trump ally 2018 midterm congressional election season near trump strong link conservative christians play key part stun victory 2016 presidential election though disenchant evangelicals unlikely switch vote democrats could stay home next year u.s. voters elect senators representatives base start even slowly move away sign concern say justin vaughn director center idaho history politics boise state university idaho state trump handily last year country religious western democracies president spiritual life closely examine twice-divorced new york billionaire socialite attend church twice since jan. 20 inauguration unlikely torchbearer conservative christians labor build preserve unlikely alliance embrace social issue commitment anti-abortion religious liberty policies pick staunch conservative neil gorsuch supreme court trump also mention god far often public remark two predecessors reuters review show graphic tmsnrt.rs/2y3hxbv data nationwide online reuters/ipsos poll conduct jan. 22 aug. 25 suggest trump unable prevent evangelical support slide line overall rat majority poll last month describe white born-again evangelical christian say approve trump considerably few take office almost eight months ago white house respond request comment poll four-week period august 62 percent white evangelicals say approve trump 33 percent disapprove president percent say mix feel drop first four weeks trump presidency late january mid february 73 percent white evangelicals say approve performance 23 percent disapprove percent mix feel poll divide eight four-week periods include 2,000 people credibility interval measure accuracy percentage point decline broadly line record among adult americans interview 10 survey conservative christians say concern trump religion rather question whether enough help average americans frequent chaos white house go week without someone leave administration stability government say robert waldram 52-year-old baptist churchgoer williamsburg virginia telephone interview say vote trump good option democratic presidential nominee hillary clinton waldram say tire trump childlike tantrums twitter first 200 days office trump mention god 100 time public remark exclude standard god bless america presidents routinely end speeches something ardent supporters welcome readiness eschew political correctness point presidencies democrat barack obama mention god 43 time republican george w. bush refer god 60 instance jeffress one first prominent evangelical pastors back trump president say god talk apolitical understand cynical people would say political expediency ... believe come deep beliefs personally jeffress say trump describe presbyterian know avid churchgoer become president critics say blunder basic biblical knowledge harsh attack political adversaries demean comment women clash christian principles sterling track record term either church attendance profess display knowledge scripture gary scott smith historian author religion oval office religious live american presidents say trump pastors involve trump evangelical advisory board describe though inquisitive faith thoughtful religion might appear public conservative pastors continue support various firestorms evangelicals unprecedented white house access administration say richard land board member president southern evangelical seminary christian college trump response violence white nationalists left-wing protesters charlottesville virginia lead two business advisory councils disband question evangelical board future brooklyn new york megachurch pastor a.r bernard resign others remain say job provide advice counsel trump even disagree press president christian issue johnnie moore board member former official liberty university religious school say deep personal relationship ... prioritize issue important us appreciate that pastors stand firm trump 's u.s. evangelical base weaken