In the heat of the 2016 Republican primary, a forthcoming book reveals that Donald Trump referred to evangelical supporters of his rival Ted Cruz as "so-called Christians" and "real pieces of shit." The book, titled "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism," by Tim Alberta, sheds light on a critical period in the Republican primary. The revelation comes as the 2024 Republican primary gains momentum, with the Iowa caucus just two months away.

The incident occurred during an event at Liberty University in Virginia, an evangelical college, shortly before the Iowa vote in January 2016. Trump's attempt to appeal to evangelicals backfired when he mispronounced "Second Corinthians" as "Two Corinthians." Subsequently, when influential evangelical leader Tony Perkins endorsed Ted Cruz, Trump speculated about a conspiracy among powerful evangelicals to deny him the GOP nomination.

The book outlines that in private conversations over the following years, Trump used even more colorful language to describe the evangelical community. Despite this, Trump went on to secure the nomination and eventually the presidency in 2016. His dominance in Republican politics persists, with strong support from evangelicals, a crucial voting bloc, as indicated by various polls.

As the 2024 primary unfolds, Trump's closest rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, recently received an endorsement from influential evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats in Iowa. Despite Trump's legal and political challenges, including two impeachments and multiple criminal charges, his hold on evangelical voters remains formidable, shaping the dynamics of the upcoming Republican primary.