In any case, the opportunity for Trump, at least rhetorically, to stand with Southern Baptists against Democratic governor Tim Walz couldn't be passed up, since Minnesota is a swing state for the presidential election and is a state Trump barely lost* in 2016. Whipping up enthusiasm on the religious Right is important to Trump if he is to have any hope of reelection.
4. Right wing churches are, quite illegally, actually ongoing campaign rallies for Trump. Churches are given tax exemptions, in return for which they are supposed to stay out of politics. But a lot of evangelical churches have gladly taken our tax money but then turned around and openly supported Trump. For them to remain closed is very inconvenient for Trump's reelection campaign, depriving him of a key set of megaphones.
Bonus Video:
10 Tampa Bay: "'We're not ready': Churches hesitant to open despite President Trump's blessing"
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