Our Visit with President Trump in the Oval Office Yesterday

March 21st, 2025

The White House Faith Office invited 14 of us to a private meeting for a discussion of some of our greatest national and international concerns. Following this, we were invited into the Oval Office by President Trump.

This was not my first time to meet him. During the 2016 election, I had the high honor to serve on Donald Trump’s Faith Advisory Board with approximately 35 other faith leaders. After his election, the name was changed to the “White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative” for the 2017-2021 Trump 45 Administration.

Pictures from the past with the President

Over the years, we met with the President six or seven, maybe perhaps eight times, all arranged by Pastor Paula White. I do not recall the exact number of times.

The meeting yesterday was my first time to meet with him during his second administration, with “Trump 47.”

Here are several thoughts from that meeting:

Everyone can see that the assassination attempt in Butler, PA (as well the one in West Palm Springs), has truly changed him. (It would change all of us!) He recognizes that God saved him, for a purpose. He has openly stated this in both his Inaugural Address and in the State of the Union Address. And he tends to live in a way that shows a seriousness about his calling in life. The President is highly focused, with great clarity.

His work capacity is super human. At 78 (to be 79 on June 14), he is apparently still able to get by on very little sleep.

And his capacity to multitask is stunning. When we walked into the White House, Sebastian Gorka was walking out. As we went up a very narrow stairway (the White House was built in the 1800s), Vice President JD Vance was coming down. As we went into a waiting area, Donald Trump Jr. was exiting the wing. Then Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff came out. Later Crypto Czar David Sachs came out. Then Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum emerged. In a short time, the President was having one meeting after another. His mental capacity is remarkable. Notice that in his almost daily press conferences, he does not falter on any topic. That is why I strongly objected to people saying Joe Biden was “too old.” Age was not his problem. The problem was not age, but mental acuity. Joe Biden became president, being sworn in at 78. Donald Trump is 78 now. Age is not the issue. Mental health is. Biden was unfit for office. In contrast, few can keep up with Trump’s staggering brainpower. And those meetings were all within the scope of a couple hours. Even today, I have seen how many meetings he has already had. This is remarkable.

The President was so “at home” with us, as evangelical leaders. As one who has pastored for nearly one half of a century, I can sense when elected officials are slightly uncomfortable with “men of the cloth,” as we pastors used to be called. He was welcoming. He was warm. He seemed to be really enjoying being with us. In addition, he did not rush us. Some later told us that his body language was clear: He was in no rush. And then he did something that I do not recall ever happening in the other visits I have had to the Oval Office. He said, “Let’s line up for individual pictures.” That takes time. But he is the one who suggested it.

He spoke about special commemorative coins. In the military they are called “challenge coins.” He said that over the years, he had received thousands of them. However one such coin caught his attention. It was profoundly detailed. It took his staff a very long time to track down the person who had given it to him. He contacted the man who made the special decorative coin and offered to buy a thousand of them. President Trump said, “And the response I got was one I have never heard in business.” The man who made the special coin said, “That is twice what you need to pay for them. Instead, pay me half that much.” The President bought (if I understood him correctly on this) 1,000 of them. He then gave one to each of us. That was extremely special.

On a humorous note, on the edge of his desk were two hats. I thought they were the standard MAGA hats. However, I did not see what they said across the front. Stitched in wide white letters were the words, “TRUMP WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING.” He quickly tossed the hats to two persons standing the closest to the Resolute Desk at that moment: Pastor Robert Jeffress and Gary Bauer. Those two great men were worthy of the hats – given to them by the President himself – in the Oval Office. What a keepsake!

As we entered the room and greeted him, shaking his hand, one at a time, he greeted each of us personally. The bottom line: He took great personal interest in every single person who entered the room. I have seen his personal courtesies extended to people on numerous occasions.

As I was standing beside him for my individual picture with him (he was seated at the desk), I leaned down and whispered in his right ear, “I am the most encouraged I have ever been.” He turned to his right and said, “What?” I repeated myself, whispering softly, “I am the most encouraged I have ever been.” Having heard me the second time, he turned to the crowd in front of the desk and said, “Hey, did you hear what he just said?” (Of course, they had not. I had whispered it very softly.) He continued, “He just said he is the most encouraged he has ever been.” And I truly am. I will wait for another newsletter to list the reasons why. However, I will state this much. As one who has been politically active since I age nine – from August 13, 1956 while watching the Democratic National Convention – I had personally given up that our government would ever address the national debt, the vast corruption, or the waste, fraud and abuse. I am now overjoyed that within my lifetime, I am seeing a President who is actually truly willing to expose it and root it out, not to mention the many great policy changes that President Trump is bringing.

CBS Polls show massive approval of
Trump’s State of the Union Address

During the course of the conversation, the issue of the polls came up. He responded, “It appears I am doing well there.” I added (these are the words I can reconstruct to the best of my knowledge), “Mr. President, you are also doing well in the ‘polling’ in heaven. God approves of the many changes you are bringing.” Why did I say that? People are fickle. Polls change. People may support a person for a while, and then they change their minds. The important fact is to do what God desires, to do what is biblically correct. President Trump has made so many dramatic changes that has moved public policy back to not merely “common sense,” but to scriptural foundations. (By the way, “common sense” comes from “natural revelation” – that which we observe from nature, and “special revelation” – that which is revealed through the Word of God.) The President is leading this nation back to sanity and “common sense,” as he prefers to call it.

The President was quick to point out two 24 karat gold angels above the doors to the right and the left of his desk. (He explained the difference between being merely “painted gold” and “being gold.”) If I understood him correctly, he had these brought from Mar-a-Lago. He also showed us an original of the U.S. Constitution which he had framed and mounted on the wall to his right. (If I understood him correctly, there are only three such original ones.) It is covered by a curtain to protect it from light, but is opened for people to see. What an honor to see it! Allow me to make a point that is already obvious to discerning persons: These are far more than mere “symbols,” though they are that. The angels represent angelic protection (Think, Butler, PA). And having an original of the Constitution of the United States, signed by the Founders, only a few feet from the Resolute Desk is a reminder of the law of the land. Critics – those suffering from the bona fide mental health issue called “Trump Derangement Syndrome” – will mock this. They are undiscerning cynics. However, intelligent and sane people know that these items represent some real and sacred values, values to be cherished.

The red Tesla that the President purchased
from Elon Musk

Yes I wanted to drive it. No, I didn't.

On a lighter note, the famous red Tesla was parked outside the West Wing. We took turns posing by this beautiful new car that the President just purchased from Elon Musk. Yes, we really did want to take it for a spin. No, we did not.

West Wing of the White House

Eisenhower Executive Office Building

There are some other things that you need to know. The “West Wing” is a portion of the White House. The “EEOC” – the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the large structure next to the White House – houses many of the offices of the executive branch. The issue of faith is so important to President Trump, that he insisted that one of the 15 or so offices of the West Wing, a premium piece of real estate, be occupied by the White House Faith Office. This is stunning.

Oh, but there is more. The people running the White Faith Office report directly to the President. They don’t go through layers of bureaucracy. They report directly. This is stunning as well.

But there is more, this is not the office of “Faith Initiatives” or “Faith Outreach” or “Faith (anything else).” This is simply the “Faith Office.” That says a lot. Simply put, faith is important to the President. He frequently asks Pastor Paula White, “How are my pastors?” or “How are my rabbis?” Let me put it bluntly: President Trump understands the value of a deep Christian faith and is honoring that.

Pastor Paula White with the President

With Pastor Paula White in front of the
White House West Wing yesterday

Deputy Assistant Jenny Korn

Pastor Paula White is the leader of the Faith Office. Jenny Korn is the Deputy Assistant. Both are superbly qualified to lead. Part of the goal of the Faith Office is to combat anti-Semitism, anti-Christian and other forms of anti-religious bias.

In another newsletter, I will write more about Paula White. There are some who severely criticize her on social media. I will deal with that later, but allow me to summarize this as one who has worked with her through the 2016-2020 Trump 45 Administration, then during the 2020 election, in some measure 2020-2024, and now once again in 2025: She is eminently qualified for the job.

Those who criticize her have never met her and have never worked under her direction. She is the perfect choice for this important role. All the persons who work with her respect her abilities.

And for the record, Jenny Korn is equally qualified. They are a remarkable duo. More on that later.

For now, I just wanted to give “people of faith” encouragement that you have a President who really values what you and I value: Our total dependance on and trust in Almighty God, and His Son Jesus Christ. If you are one who believes in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, be encouraged. You have a friend – a really good friend – in the White House.

Bottom line: Be encouraged.

Blessings,
Dr. Jim Garlow
CEO/Founder
Well Versed

Rosemary Schindler Garlow
Co-Founder
Well Versed

Posted in Washington DC, President Donald J. Trump, Faith Leaders, Faith Advisory Board

4 Comments

Add Your Comment

Janet - March 21st, 2025 at 4:26am

I've been following your page for several years. I find your posts time m to be real and raw, which I love. I love your honesty when you are describing your "sanctification meter" level, and I'm grateful that a man of your faith and intelligence is connected to DC, the President, and basically the reality of what's going on in the world. I'm excited for the next newsletter and thank you for your commitment to God and our country. You are in my prayers.

Michael Carrington - March 21st, 2025 at 11:08am

Thanks for your important voice and for all that you have been doing. As one of the former Deputy Directors of President Bush’s faith-based initiatives when I served at USDOJ, I am excited to see the plans that President Trump and Pastor Paula have been discussing. Going forward, there are many important policy areas where America’s faith community can play a significant role in addressing some of our nation’s pressing needs. Please contact me if I can be of help in the effort.

Chuck Anziulewicz - March 21st, 2025 at 5:45pm

Donald Trump is playing you for suckers. Sure, you'll gather around him and lay hands on him and pray on him, and of course he'll close his eyes obediently for the cameras. But anyone who thinks Donald Trump is a REMOTELY God-fearing man is hopelessly naive.

Bryan Cuthill - March 21st, 2025 at 10:33pm

While the Lord has been opening opportunities to place copies of "Reversed" in the hands of members of the Nevada State Legislature as they are in session, a couple in our congregation provided tickets to a dinner at which I was able to present "Reversed" to Mark Amodei, member of United States House of Representatives, to Joe Lombardo, Governor of the State of Nevada, Michael J. McDonald, Chairman of the Nevada Republican Party, and Andy Matthew's, Comptroller for the State of Nevada.

nOur congregation is praying that work can be replicated in all fifty states. Our goal is to "Christianize Christianity, Reform the Nation, and Win the World".

nI am now getting Spanish copies of "Well Versed" into the hands of pastors of Spanish speaking churches in Northern Nevada.

nGod has ooened a door that no man can shut!