Donald Trump to meet with African-American pastors
GOP front-runner Donald Trump enthusiastically exclaimed in a press release that on Monday, "Mr. Trump will be joined by a coalition of 100 African American Evangelical pastors and religious leaders who will endorse the GOP frontrunner after a private meeting at Trump Tower."
One problem: many of the pastors are denying this is an endorsement and didn't know it would be characterized as such.
"I was invited to attend a gathering of clergy to listen to Mr. Trump on Monday November 30," Corletta J. Vaughn of The Holy Ghost Cathedral in Detroit said in a message posted to Facebook. "I respectively declined as I do not support nor will endorse Donald Trump."
"I will not be in New York with Mr. Trump," the message went on. "Nor am I a part of the coalition of Black Pastors being led by Pastor Darrell Scott of Cleveland Ohio."
Scott appeared alongside Trump at a rally in Norcross, Georgia earlier this year giving him his full-throated endorsement.
"When I heard he was running again, I couldn't wait to jump on board," Scott told reporters in Norcross. "Legislatively - Mr. Trump - I don't know what type of legislator he is or he will be. I don't know what kind of judiciator [sic] he is or would be be. But I do know one thing - he is a hell of a chief executive."
Another pastor who will attend the meeting, Dr. Steve Parson Sr., of Richmond, Virginia, told CBS News that he will be endorsing Trump and that he is on track to getting more than 25 percent of the African-American vote.
However, other pastors invited to the meeting pushed back on claims that they were supporting Trump.
Bishop Clarence McClendon of Los Angeles took to Facebook to emphasize that he would not be at the meeting.
"Bishop McClendon was INVITED to attend Monday's meeting and his name was used as an invitee, but had made no plans to attend the meeting and indeed will NOT be in attendance. The meeting was presented not as a meeting to endorse but as a meeting to engage in dialogue.
"I'm like a few seconds from bowing out of it," Bishop Hezekiah Walker, founder of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle church in New York City, told the New York Post.
"There's always a side of me that wishes and prays for hope, and it just seems like the more I'm trying to say, 'Give this guy a chance' ... the worse things get. He's constantly doing something."
Atlanta-based Bishop Wiley Jackson also downplayed the meeting in a YouTube video but said he would attend.
"I was asked to be a part of the coalition of African-American pastors who were to meet with a presidential candidate, Donald Trump, by a friend," Jackson said. "Nowhere on the flyer does it mention an endorsement of Mr. Trump, or any candidate for that matter."
A pastor from Opelousas, Louisiana, Kerney Thomas told local station KLFY that he planned on attending, but had serious questions for Trump.
"Here in Opelousas, I'd like to see some things flow down here," Thomas said. "I got some questions I want to ask him concerning some of his political stands. Some of his racial stand. Got some questions about some recent statements made and see if this is how he really feels. I know sometimes we get put on the spot and give answers that may not really reflect our real opinion or who we are."
Pastor Scott did not respond to requests for comment.
When asked about the event, the campaign told CBS News, "On Monday, Mr. Trump will host an informational meet and greet with many members of the Coalition of African American Ministers."
The statement clarified that "This is not a press event, but a private meeting, after which, a number of attendees are expected to endorse Mr. Trump's campaign for President."
"As a Christian, I have had a tremendous relationship with large numbers of religious leaders, who I greatly respect," Trump said in the campaign statement. "I look forward to our meeting."