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Praying in the Oval Office.
A photo shoot with the Bible raised.
Mike Pence, as ultra-conservative vice president, at his side.
These are images that are specifically aimed at an influential group of voters.
The largest religious current in the US that Donald Trump could bring back to the White House in November.
Steve Warren, Evangelical Pastor
"I believe that God made Donald Trump President to help move this nation forward."
President Trump and the Evangelical Christians: It's a remarkable alliance.
The man who made his living from casinos in the past.
Who has been divorced twice and was involved in an affair involving a porn star.
How was this president of all people able to unite the tradition-conscious evangelicals behind him - and will he succeed again in November?
Visiting Nashville, Tennessee, Fall 2018. We met Steve Warren, an evangelical pastor and country singer who praises Donald Trump in his songs.
Song: "Make America great again. I vote for Trump ..."
We are now contacting him again via Skype and would like to know: Will Steve vote for Trump again in November?
Steve Warren, Pastor
"Let me put it this way: promises made, promises kept. Donald Trump has achieved exactly what he promised in advance for this country. For ordinary people as well as the Church that I represent. "
An attitude that he preaches: He's also using his church in Cookville, Tennessee for campaigning these days.
Steve Warren, Pastor
"We're not an abortion clinic. The church is a place where people live and not die. What am I telling you? Well, find out for yourself who stands for what and vote accordingly. There is a man who whom God helped into office, who is against abortion. Amen. "
Trump has not only convinced Steve Warren of himself.
80 million Americans refer to themselves as evangelicals, a movement within Protestantism that is particularly true to the Bible.
In 2016, 81 percent of white evangelicals voted for Donald Trump.
The approval ratings have dropped a little recently.
According to a study by the Pew Research Center in Washington DC at the end of June, only 72 percent now want to vote for a second term.
Even so, evangelicals are still among Trump's most important supporters.
It is an alliance of convenience that lasts.
Christian Lammert, political scientist FU Berlin
"The relationship between Trump and the white evangelicals cannot be described as moral or religious, it is simply a political interest group. Trump also sees evangelicals as an interest group that supports him. And he knows he is gets the support when he delivers, and he does. "
For example, when he was the first US president to appear at the so-called "March for Life" at the beginning of the year, the anti-abortion parade.
Donald Trump, US President
"We are here for one simple reason: to defend the right that all born and unborn children have to fulfill their God-given potential."
Trump based his Middle East policy on the goals of evangelicals:
Donald Trump, US President
"I recognized Israel's true capital, opened an American embassy in Jerusalem and recognized the Land of Israel and its sovereignty over the Golan Heights."
And after the death of the liberal constitutional judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Trump wants the ultra-conservative Amy Coney Barrett as his successor: a deeply religious Catholic who could help in the Supreme Court overturning the 1973 "Roe v. Wade" ruling that pregnant women do Right to decide about an abortion for oneself.
These images sparked a particularly controversial debate: During the "Black Lives Matter" protests, the US President forcibly cleared the way to a church and then posed with a Bible.
But with Steve Warren the clumsy staging was obviously well received:
Steve Warren, Evangelical Pastor
"I'll tell you what I thought: I thought this was his way of telling Americans that he stood for the gospel. He didn't use the Bible as a prop. He just didn't have that Made to be seen and heard, or to disguise something. Not the president of this nation. I believe in it with all my heart. "
Trump's strength: gathering people who speak directly to evangelical voters.
Paula White, for example, pastor at a mega-church in Florida that livestreams all services.
White is now Trump's spiritual advisor.
(Florida, July 23, 2020)
Or Pastor Robert Jeffress, who already supported Trump in the 2016 election campaign and regularly creates the mood for him on Fox News.
Trump takes advantage of the fact that church and state are separated in the USA - but not religion and politics.
He probably doesn't care much about the faith of his followers.
What counts are the votes.
He made this openly clear in 2018 at a meeting with evangelical pastors in the White House.
Donald Trump, US President
"Thanks to the friends and religious believers who are here tonight. You are really special people. Your support has been incredible. But I don't think I owe you a lot because I have a lot for myself made you guys - everything I promised. "
Christian Lammert, political scientist FU Berlin
"In the US, almost 25 percent of voters describe themselves as evangelicals. And if you look at the 2016 election results: almost half of Trump's voters are evangelicals. Without this group he can't win the election. This one The group is of course historically conservative and has always voted Republicans, but he has to keep making it clear, because he himself cannot be accepted by this group of voters in terms of his résumé and his character, that he is still delivering and that is why he needs these symbolic ones Appearances. That's why he gets people, gathers them around him, sermons in his own, to document in the Oval Office. I'm still delivering. You can still choose me. "
Steve Warren from Tennessee caught this staging four years ago - and he still relies on Trump.
Steve Warren, Evangelical Pastor
"I believe that God made Trump President. And if God chose him to be, then no one else can replace him."
