Trump supporter Pastor Mark Burns is running for Congress

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

Pastor Mark Burns, the ardent Donald Trump supporter from South Carolina, is now running for Congress.

Taking to Twitter, which also happens to be the president’s favorite social media platform, Burns announced: “I am officially seeking the Republican nomination for South Carolina’s 4th Congressional district seat, being vacated by the retiring Congressman .”

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“We need to combat the leftist, liberal and even socialist ideology that’s dividing our nation,” he said in the announcement.

He included an announcement video, which showcased his appearance in the GOP national convention back in 2016. The video also described him as an “emerging force in the conservative movement,” according to the Post and Courier.

During the 2016 convention, Burns gave a three-minute benediction in which he thanked God for “guiding (Donald Trump), giving him the words to the unite the party, this country, that we together can defeat the liberal Democratic Party.”

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A controversial candidate

Burns, who is also part of Trump’s Faith Advisory Council, often appears on cable news to defend the president and has been an outspoken and controversial figure.

Recently, he found controversy when he tried to defend Trump’s “shithole countries” comment using the Bible while appearing on CNN.

“The Bible clearly says, in First Timothy, chapter 5, verse eight,” Burns began, before Urban Radio’s White House correspondent April Ryan, cut him off.

“I’ve grown up in church so let’s be clear!” Ryan said, which got a “praise God” from Pastor Mark Burns.

“A man who does not take care of his own home, his own home, their own people, is worse than an infidel,” the televangelist stated, paraphrasing a Bible verse. “We have somehow forgotten that in America.”

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Once scripture was brought up, Ryan and Burns were competing to get their points across. Ryan brought up another famous verse from the Bible, “love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Eventually, Burns had to admit that it was his job as a man of God to take care of the poor, though host Erin Burnett noted, sarcastically, “But don’t let them into your home, God forbid.”

One thing is clear: Burns will draw controversy as a candidate for his support of Donald Trump, and he’ll be held accountable for things like this that he’s said publicly to try to defend the president.

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