"I have access that's God-ordained and God-given," he told CBN News in a wide-ranging weekend interview on Long Island. "It has to be the grace of God, so I'm not going to in no way shape or form negate or surrender that access because of pressure coming from one side."
 
Rodriguez and other leaders who serve on the president's evangelical advisory board have been hit with an avalanche of criticism since the unrest in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Their critics have called on them to quit the board in protest of the president's response to the Aug. 12 Charlottesville protests over Confederate statues. Specifically, critics were angered over Trump's failure to quickly call out white supremacists and neo-Nazis, as well as his remarks a few days later that there were "very fine people" on both sides and that both sides were to blame.  

So far, just one board member, Pastor A. R. Bernard, has left while others have re-affirmed their commitment to the board and publicly supported the president's remarks about Charlottesville.

Rodriguez says Trump was wrong to not immediately call out white supremacists and neo-Nazis in Charlottesville but defended his involvement on the board as "my God-given assignment."  He said those calling for his resignation from the board are largely inconsistent.

"Where was that argument 'why don't you abandon,' why don't evangelical advisors abandon Obama when he affirmed and celebrated and advanced the cause of same-sex marriage?  Where was the uproar when Obama expanded/funded Planned Parenthood, funded international abortions?" he asked.

Rodriguez characterized the board as one that gives "very straight talk" to the president.  

"I've never been in a conversation where the faith advisory board is silent.  This is not a rubber stamp board," he said.  "It's a board that's committed to the centrality of Jesus and Biblical truth."

The Trump board differs greatly from those in previous administrations.  It's informal with no recognized leader or structure and its make-up is thoroughly evangelical and largely conservative.
 
In contrast, both President Obama's White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and President George W. Bush's White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives had more formal structures which included White House staffers and leaders from a variety of faiths.
 
Michael Wear, a former member of the Obama office, told CBN News recently that he'd like to see the current board become more diverse in representing different faith viewpoints and do a better job of holding the president accountable, but he's not calling for its end.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez questions whether those who've called for the board's dissolution have thought through the consequences.

"What if President Trump would not have a faith advisory board and no one speaking truth and love and mercy and grace and reconciliation to him?" he asked.  "My point is, people should be thanking God every single day for the faith advisory board."

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Courageous: Worship Leader Sean Feucht Prepares to Confront Anti-Israel Evil, Darkness, and Horror

'Australian Censorship Commissar' Orders X to Globally Remove Video of Islamic Terror Attack on Christian Bishop

New Emails Expose Biden's Connection to Whistleblower Who Got Trump Impeached

Tennessee Passes Bill Letting Teachers Carry Guns at Schools

Transgender Movement Is Losing Its Influence on Social Media to Shut Down Debate

Ohio Attorney General Breaks Down Leftist Legal 'Trick' to Block GOP Efforts to Protect Kids

Nearly 2,000 Minnesota Students, 15 Teachers Walk Out of LGBTQ 'Indoctrination' Lesson

Pro-Life Advocates to Hold Prayer and Worship Service at the United States Supreme Court on the Eve of 'Idaho v. United States' Abortion Case

'Just a Disaster': Biden's Title IX Rule Empowers LGBTQ Movement, Erases Women and Justice

WATCH: Brave School Girl Reveals in Graphic Detail How TRANS Student Savagely Assaulted Her Friend While Blasting Woke School Officials for Letting it Happen

United For Israel March Happening on the Columbia University Campus, April 25th

As Anti-Israel Activists Vandalize Texas Congressman's Office, He 'Stands With Israel'

Did Letitia James Accidentally Reveal the Real Reason for Her Trump Witch Hunt?

Unredacted Motion Reveals Collaboration between Biden White House and NARA to Concoct Classified Docs Case against Trump

Report: the WHO Makes Major Changes to the Pandemic Treaty, and They're Good Ones; But Will It Last?

Israelis Remember Hostages, Fallen Soldiers, Terror Victims as Passover Begins

She Survived a Death Camp. Facing Biden DOJ Charges, She Is Prepared to Die in Prison

Planned Parenthood Committed 392,712 Abortions, Received $699.3 Million in Taxpayer Funding in 2023

Student Loan Forgiveness: Morally Reprehensible and Legally Invalid

Columbia Classes Go Virtual Before Passover Amid Protests