Indian priest preached Donald Trump gospel

CHENNAI: Many Trump supporters see a divine hand in the unlikely victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential elections. As evangelicals, they see his candidature as a fitting counter to the liberal and secular moorings of Hillary Clinton. Not surprisingly, priests of many denominations endorsed, if not actively campaigned for, Trump. Among them was Kilari Anand Paul an Andhra Pradesh-born evangelical who has often drawn comparisons with legendary Americal evangelical preacher Billy Graham.
Paul told TOI in a telephonic interview that he prayed with Trump's family members during the Republican Party debates and campaign events in South Carolina, Detroit, Florida. The victory in Florida was a key contributor to Trump's success and other places in 18 states since January this year. The intent was to create positive energy and open the minds of Americans to pick a leader who could rescue the country from its economic morass and restore its numero-uno position in the world, he said.
“The family members were very uncertain if Trump would be nominated as the Republican Party candidate and had to be motivated to believe that he would be. From the first time that I prayed with Trump's wife Melania and daughter Ivanka at Charleston on January 14, I assured them that nothing in the world, not even the Pope, could stop Trump from becoming the Republican candidate and US President,“ recalled Paul who founded the Global Peace Initiative (GPI) in Houstan, Texas, in 1989.
K A Paul is no stranger to American politics or even the media. A globe-trotter, Paul often shows up in the unlikeliest of places, ministering to troubled leaders, pushing to choose peace.
Charles Taylor, the disgraced leader of Liberia, attributed Paul's intervention to his decision to abdicate. Later, Paul sought to mediate in the Libyan crisis and met with Gaddafi leading to a peace deal. However, he said that then secretary of state Hillary Clinton had nixed the deal pushing Libya into a war situation.
“In a communication dated June 16 this year, director of coalitions for Trump campaign, Alan Cobb asked me if Paul would be interested in serving on their faith advisory board. This followed a series of meetings that Paul had with Trump family members since January to pray with them for the candidature of Trump,“ said GPI executive director and Republican Party communications consultant, David Mc Quade. “Paul knows how to bring peace whether in a family, neighbourhood or any troubled part of the world,“ he said.