“Duck Dynasty” mogul Willie Robertson said Tuesday that he considers Ben Carson a fellow Christian, defending the GOP presidential candidate’s faith.
“I have met Ben Carson [and] he’s a super nice person,” the reality TV star said on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria.”
{mosads}“He’s a nice guy, a great guy,” Robertson added. “I certainly share his faith.”
Robertson’s comments come after GOP front-runner Donald Trump appeared to question the religious beliefs of rival Carson, a Seventh-day Adventist. Some critics believe the group is outside the doctrines of mainstream Christianity.
“I’m Presbyterian. Boy, that’s down the middle of the road, folks, in all fairness. I mean, Seventh-day Adventist, I don’t know about. I just don’t know about,” Trump said at a campaign rally last week.
Robertson also hailed Trump for criticizing the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and its persecution of Christians overseas.
“I remember when he said it and I think it was the first time I ever heard someone actually say it who is running for president,” he said of Trump’s attacks on the terrorist group.
“I didn’t hear a lot of talk about it [before that],” Robertson said. “As a Christian, I was like, ‘What is going on in this world?’
“Those kinds of things to me are big,” he added. “I hurt for those people all over the world who are being persecuted.”
Robertson said Carson and Trump are both part of an impressive GOP 2016 field that is passionate about religious liberty.
“These are great guys and I love talking to them and sharing ideas with them,” he said, also citing former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.).
“This whole country was founded on the Christian faith,” Robertson said. “I’m with the Founding Fathers of this country who were strong believers. They didn’t shy away from it.”
Robertson, a Louisiana native, has repeatedly expressed support for home state Gov. Bobby Jindal (R). He declined, though, to formally endorse any candidate during his interview.
“I’m not a politician so I don’t really endorse people,” Robertson said.
“It’s not all about religion to me,” he added of his ideal president. “It’s about who has the competency to run [the country].
“I don’t know if I have time to run around [in support of a candidate],” Robertson added. “I have a television show.”
Trump has been the GOP front-runner, but a CBS News/New York Times poll Tuesday showed Carson edging him nationally. Carson is also ahead of Trump in the early-voting state of Iowa according to recent polls.