Donald Trump’s pastors meeting backfires

Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump was forced into a humiliating climbdown when he had to cancel a public event yesterday where he had planned to announce endorsements from black pastors.

The cancellation came after a group of African-American academics and clergy members urged them to reconsider, citing Trump’s “racially inaccurate ... rhetoric.”

Trump sent out word to media outlets last week that he would hold an early afternoon news conference to announce the endorsement of his campaign by “100 African American Evangelical pastors and religious leaders... after a private meeting.”

He did not reveal the names of the people he expected to meet. On Sunday he tweeted: “Will be meeting on Monday at Trump Tower with a large group of African American Pastors. Many I know-wonderful people! Not a press event.”

In an open letter published on the website of Ebony Magazine, 114 academics and church leaders warned the pastors that meeting with Trump would be a mistake.

“We are concerned that your choice to meet with Mr Trump, particularly in such a visible way, will not only de-radicalise the Black prophetic political tradition, but will also give Trump the appearance of legitimacy among those who follow your leadership and respect your position as clergy,” the letter said.

“Trump’s racially inaccurate, insensitive and incendiary rhetoric should give those charged with the care of the spirits and souls of Black people great pause.”

Trump said of the cancellation: “Probably some of the Black Lives Matter folks called them up and said, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t be meeting with Trump because he believes all lives matter,’” referring to the movement protesting against police brutality and the killing of unarmed African-Americans.

Trump’s spokeswoman Hope Hicks did not respond when asked whether the letter directly influenced Trump’s decision to cancel Monday’s press conference.

The change of plans comes after a week of setbacks for the billionaire real estate mogul. A Reuters/Ipsos poll on Friday showed a 12-point drop in Trump’s poll numbers.

He was the favourite of 31% of Republicans in a rolling poll in the five days ended on November 27, down from a peak of 43% registered on November 22.

Trump has found himself on the defensive over his assertions that he saw thousands of Muslims in New Jersey celebrating the destruction of the World Trade Centre towers on September. 11, 2001.

That claim has been disputed by public officials and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, another contender for the Republican nomination for the November 2016 election.