washington president donald trump thursday vow free church tax-exempt institutions 1954 u.s. law ban political activity draw fire critics accuse reward evangelical christian supporters turn house worship political machine trump use prayer breakfast take aim long-standing statutory barrier politics religion call johnson amendment civil liberties gay right group express concern might consider executive order allow government agencies businesses deny service gay people name religious freedom trump reference order remark lambast johnson amendment prohibit tax-exempt organizations church place worship charities educational institutions directly indirectly participate political campaign favor political candidate get rid totally destroy johnson amendment allow representatives faith speak freely without fear retribution remember trump tell u.s. politicians religious leaders guests include jordan king abdullah annual national prayer breakfast white house spokesman sean spic tell reporters trump want find ways make sure people penalize follow religious beliefs draft executive order religious freedom circulate among advocacy group would allow government officials deny marriage license gay couple let businesses withhold service gay people activists say white house say work order trump previously speak johnson amendment campaign support evangelical christian leaders include liberty university president jerry falwell jr. change law would require action republican-led u.s. congress republican lawmakers introduce legislation would reverse policy trump remark republican house representatives speaker paul ryan tell reporters always support eliminate johnson amendment critics include group americans unite separation church state express alarm president donald trump ally religious right seek turn america house worship miniature political action committees say group executive director barry lynn would also lead house worship focus support candidates exchange financial aid would disaster church politics america lynn say peter montgomery liberal advocacy group people american way say trump want pay back religious conservatives help get elect let turn church political machine tax-exempt charitable dollars scrap johnson amendment goal christian conservatives contend violate free speech religious freedom right u.s. constitution first amendment guarantee freedom religion bar government establish official religion encourage see president trump understand real constitutional violation pose johnson amendment commit restore pastor right speak freely pulpit without fear government retribution say erik stanley senior counsel conservative christian legal group alliance defend freedom trump use open moments usually solemn prayer breakfast deride actor arnold schwarzenegger successor reality tv show viewership rat trump say schwarzenegger republican former governor california disastrous rat nbc reality tv program celebrity apprentice trump previously star hire big big movie star arnold schwarzenegger take place know turn trump say total disaster ... want pray arnold rat ok schwarzenegger endorse ohio governor john kasich trump republican presidential nomination shoot back allude controversies trump first two weeks office hey donald great idea schwarzenegger say video switch job take tv expert rat take job people finally sleep comfortably again spic late call trump remark light-hearted part absolutely beautiful speech trump week ago put 120-day halt u.s. refugee program bar syrian refugees indefinitely impose 90-day suspension people seven predominantly muslim countries iran iraq libya somalia sudan syria yemen trump defend directive thursday crucial ensure religious freedom tolerance america say want prevent beachhead intolerance spread unite state also call terrorism fundamental threat religious freedom world trouble go straighten ok fix things trump say hear tough phone call worry trump add apparently refer telephone conversations include one australian prime minister malcolm turnbull time go little tough folks take advantage every nation world virtually go happen anymore trump say trump vow end prohibition church political activity