President Trump Vows To 'Destroy' Law Forbidding Political Statements From Churches

President Trump said Thursday that he wanted to "totally destroy" a part of the tax code that bars some non-profits, including religious organizations, from making political statements.

The Johnson Amendment, enacted in 1954, forbids all 501(c)(3) non-profits from "directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office."

Trump's comments came during a wandering speech at Thursday's National Prayer Breakfast, during which he also talked about "tough phone calls" he's had with world leaders and told religious figures in the room to pray for Arnold Schwarzenegger for his low "Apprentice" ratings.

Trump told the crowd he was "blessed" that he was raised in a "churched" home.

"It was the great Thomas Jefferson who said, 'The God who gave us life, gave us liberty.' Jefferson asked, 'Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God,'" Trump said.

"Among those freedoms is the right to worship according to our own beliefs. That is why I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution. I will do that, remember."

Watch Trump's full speech below:

Image via YouTube