"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

Countdown for Historic Space Mission Artemis II Begins

Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Halt Construction on Privately Funded White House Ballroom; Trump Responds

Trump Rolls Out a Plan to Back Farmers amid Rising Costs, Pledging 'Golden Age'

Trump's Election Executive Order is Causing a Meltdown among Liberals

Another Illegal Alien Charged With Murder in Democrat Run Fairfax County, Virginia

US Forces Reach 12,000 Combat Flights, Debunk Fake News About Iran Operation

President Trump Addresses Nation Tonight, Signals End in Sight for Iran Conflict

Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Birthright Citizenship, as the CCP Exploits It to Sway US Elections

ICYMI: Iranian People March in DC in Support of Op Epic Fury and Trump; 'We Will Reclaim Our Country'

Trump's FDA Indicates Move Away from Testing on Dogs, Bunnies, Chimpanzees

Chicago Bulls Dump Player after His Criticism of Pride Month

Finally Confirmed: Michigan Synagogue Car Ramming Was 'Hezbollah-Inspired' Terror Attack

SURPRISE! Zohran Mamdani's New 'Free' Childcare Program is Going to Cost $60,000 Per Child

Courtroom Bombshell: ATF Can't Link Bullet That Killed Charlie Kirk to Suspect's Rifle

FBI: Over 6,200 Missing Children Located, More Than 300 Human Traffickers and 1,700 Child Predators Arrested over Past Year

SCOTUS Rules on Colorado's Ban on 'Conversion Therapy' to Help Gender Dysphoric Individuals

President Trump Shares Letter on Palm Sunday, from Franklin Graham Discussing Salvation

HSLDA Lawyer Warns This Bill Would Create a 'Surveillance State' for Homeschooling Families

Major Airports Return to Normal as TSA Workers Get Paid

GROTESQUE: Barack Obama's Orwellian Push for Virginia Redistricting Is Something to Behold