Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts warned Americans at a press conference on Friday, saying that Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for the US presidency, is the most “anti-faith” presidential candidate in history and that her administration will cause Christians to lose their faith. freedom to worship.

Roberts, who has led the conservative think tank since 2021, hosted a Virtual Faith Media Roundtable to Discuss Why Christians Should Vote Friday. In his remarks, he warned of possible consequences of a Harris administration and soothed Christians who had concerns about former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee.

The speech took place four days before the 2024 presidential election, which features a tight race between the Republican candidates of Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, and the Democratic candidates of Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

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Roberts described Harris as “the most anti-faith, anti-religion presidential candidate in history.” “People of faith who are concerned about the choice they are making need to understand what is really at stake,” he argued.

“If the Harris-Walz campaign prevails, we will lose our ability to worship, we will lose our religious freedom,” he argued. He cited the vice president’s suggestion at one of his last rallies to attendees who shouted phrases like “Jesus is King” that they were at the wrong rally as an example of his hostility to religion.

Roberts expressed concerns about the Harris-Walz administration’s “expansion of abortion,” “literal curtailment of religious freedom,” and “efforts to curtail free speech” if Democrats gain full control of the U.S. Congress as well as the presidency. He expressed concern that they would “restrict freedom of expression for people of faith” as well as media outlets.

“While there are other things I worry about, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that I think the entire First Amendment would be in jeopardy in the event of a Harris-Walz victory in the 2024 election,” Roberts said. In addition to laying out the consequences of the Harris-Walz administration for people of faith, he sought to reassure those who had concerns that a Trump-Vance administration would not be much better.

“There are people of faith sitting on the sidelines because they forget that we elected a president, not a pastor,” Roberts lamented. He suggested Christians who plan to not participate in the 2024 election because of concerns about Trump should remember that “none of us are perfect,” including Trump and Vance.

Roberts’ comments about people of faith “sitting on the sidelines” in the 2024 election are based on a study published last month by the Arizona Christian University Center for Cultural Research that estimated 32 million people who identify as Christians will refrain from voting.

Addressing concerns that Trump’s pro-life stance is inadequate by insisting that abortion be left to the states after the US Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health OrganizationRoberts, who vowed not to sign the decision determining that the US Constitution does not include the right to abortion and a national abortion ban, said, “I think people of faith should remember the former president’s past on this issue.” In the White House.

“I am cautiously optimistic that under Trump-Vance, the policy default for the president and vice president will still be firmly pro-life,” he said. Referring to the presidential cabinet and administration meeting that will follow the Trump-Vance victory, Roberts said, “It is almost impossible to avoid the appointment of pro-life people.”

Roberts called the pro-life movement “a vital, vital part of the political coalition that will succeed in electing Trump and Vance” and emphasized that it would be “politically smart” to give pro-life activists prominent roles in the administration.

Polls at the national level and in individual swing states as of Friday predict a close election. RealClearPolicy average National polls asking voters which candidate they support show Trump with a narrow lead of 0.3 percentage points over Harris. “There is no room for indecision” at RealClearPolitics mapThis report, which reflects the outcome of the presidential election in the electoral college based on voting averages in individual states, shows Trump receiving 287 electoral delegate votes to Harris’ 251.