Jerry Falwell Jr., a leading evangelical Christian leader and president of Liberty University, defended President Donald Trump and his response to last weekend’s deadly rally of neo-Nazis and white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia.

“He doesn’t say what’s politically correct, he says what’s in his heart, what he believes in his heart and sometimes that gets him into trouble,” Falwell told Martha Raddatz on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday. “He does not have a racist bone in his body — I know him well.”

.@JerryFalwellJr: Pres. Trump "doesn't say what's politically correct, he says what's in his heart…and sometimes that gets him in trouble" pic.twitter.com/BtcrL8x8OI

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) August 20, 2017

Falwell also praised Trump, whom he had endorsed in his presidential campaign, as “something we haven’t had in national leadership in a long time: He’s substance over form.”

.@JerryFalwellJr: Pres. Trump "is something we haven't had in national leadership in a long time: he's substance over form." #ThisWeek pic.twitter.com/jnDNzOVVLV

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) August 20, 2017

Also Read: Katie Couric Releases Footage of Charlottesville Rally Violence: 'It Breaks My Heart' (Video)

Raddatz noted that Falwell was one of the few prominent Trump supporters — or members of his administration — willing to defend the president publicly over his handling of Charlottesville.

“When we asked the White House for an official who could appear on this program today to speak on behalf of the president, they pointed us to … Jerry Falwell Jr.,” Raddatz said.

Also Read: Here's Everyone Who Dumped Trump This Week (Photos)

Falwell tried to sidestep criticism of Trump’s statement on Tuesday that there were “fine people” among the neo-Nazis, arguing that the president “has inside information that I don’t have.”

The evangelical leader also said Trump “left the door open” to calling the killing of counter-protester Heather Heyer “domestic terrorism” — a term that the president was reluctant to use to describe the violence in Charlottesville.

.@JerryFalwellJr on Pres. Trump's "both sides" comments in response to Charlottesville rally: "He has inside information I don't have." pic.twitter.com/i114BnkLz7

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) August 20, 2017

Here's Everyone Who Dumped Trump This Week (Photos)

In the wake of Trump's response to a violent white supremacist rally, "Unite the Right," in Charlottesville, Virginia, last weekend, several business leaders, council members and media personalities severed ties with the president. Quite a lot actually.
Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier Kicks Things Off
Frazier was the first to step down from Trump's council on manufacturing jobs Monday over POTUS' reaction to the events in Charlottesville, but he was far from the last.
WikiCommons
Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich
Plank and Krzanich both followed Frazier's lead in quitting the council, citing Trump's Charlottesville response. Trump tweeted condemnation of Frazier, who is black, but for some reason said nothing about these two.
WikiCommons
Alliance for American Manufacturing president Scott Paul
Early Tuesday morning, Paul became the fourth CEO to quit the manufacturing jobs group, and yes, he cited Trump's response to Charlottesville as the reason.
Twitter
Trump Makes It Worse
Tuesday afternoon, Trump shocked the country with an off-the-rails press conference at Trump Tower in which he appeared to defend and sympathize with the racist mob in Charlottesville. Trump insisted there was blame, as well as "many fine people" on both sides of the conflict in which nazi-sympathizer murdered one person and injured 19 more with his car.
Getty
AFL-CIO Bails Out
Soon after Trump's rant, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations president Richard Trumka resigned from the manufacturing council.
CBS
Advisory Councils Disband
On Wednesday, members of Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum agreed to disband after Trump's response to the violence in Charlottesville. Soon after, the president announced via Twitter that he was ending his executive councils.
Twitter
"I Voted For Trump, And I Sorely Regret It"
That's the title of a New York Times op-ed written by Julius Krein, the founder and editor of pro-Trump website American Affairs. It went viral, though mainly because people were mocking it.
American Affairs
Trump Loses a Murdoch
James Murdoch, CEO of 21st Century Fox and more importantly son of media magnate and conservative icon Rupert Murdoch, dissed Trump in a widely circulated email to employees. He also said he and his wife will donate $1 million to the Anti-Defamation League over POTUS' response to Charlottesville.
Getty Images
The Arts and Humanities Council Disses Trump, then Disbands
The Arts and Humanities Comittee resigned Friday morning en masse with a letter written so that the first letters of every paragraph spelled “RESIST.” The members include Kal Penn, Paula Boggs, Chuck Close, Richard Cohen, Fred Goldring and more.

Getty Images
Bannon Ousted
White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon was reportedly fired Friday morning, though he insists he resigned July 27—giving two weeks’ notice—but his leaving was put off because of the events in Charlottesville. He will return to Breitbart news to go to “war” for Trump.
Getty Images
Still More Resignations
Politico reported Friday afternoon that a "wave of resignations" hit the Commerce Dept.'s "digital economy" board. More than half the members of the 15-member board resigned.
WikiCommons
A Billionaire BFF Bails on Trump
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn stepped down Friday afternoon as unofficial special advisor to Trump, though he doesn't pile on. “I sincerely regret that because of your extremely busy schedule, as well as my own, I have not had the opportunity to spend nearly as much time as I’d hoped on regulatory issues,” he said in a letter to Trump.
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From the manufacturing council to James Murdoch, Trump’s response to Charlottesville has severed ties

In the wake of Trump's response to a violent white supremacist rally, "Unite the Right," in Charlottesville, Virginia, last weekend, several business leaders, council members and media personalities severed ties with the president. Quite a lot actually.

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