Donald Trump’s personal pastor angered netizens after a video was posted online in which the 53-year-old woman, among other things, said: "If you are saying no to President Trump, you are saying no to God". Ms White, who has recently joined the Trump administration and will conduct outreach among the president’s voter base, also said: “when I walk on White House grounds, God walks on White House grounds…where I stand is holy".
Most netizens were incensed at White’s comments, saying she doesn’t represent people who believe in God and is in fact a false prophet.
White is popular among Evangelicals and some other denominations, but at the same time she is criticised by many Christians for teaching the "prosperity gospel", which says people who strongly believe in God and make donations to church will be rewarded with good health and wealth. Social media users pointed out that Paula White, who happens to be a millionaire, is only interested in money.
Her statements even made some atheists and Christians question their beliefs.
White befriended Trump in the beginning of 2000s. In a recent interview with The Examiner, Paula White said that Trump once dreamed of building a crystal cathedral similar to the Christ Cathedral in California. In 2006, the businessman-turned-politician sent White an article showing the crystal church in California and said: “Let’s do this before we are too old”. White said that Trump even hired an architect, but the project was not implemented because the timing was not right for her, as she was preoccupied with a divorce.
White also spoke about Trump’s deep faith in God, saying he is quiet about it, unlike former President Bill Clinton, whom she called Bible-quoter.