Trump Appeals to Christian Voters Shortly After Making Crude Comments at a Rally.

Former President Donald J. Trump on Monday employed the rhetoric of persecution to assert that only he can safeguard Christian voters, ominously warning religious groups that they would face legal, cultural, political, and global threats if he were to lose in November.

Mr. Trump, previously a prominent figure in tabloid news, who was once recorded boasting about inappropriate behavior with women, presented himself at the 11th Hour Faith Leaders Meeting in Concord, N.C., not just as an advocate for Christian ideals and causes but as a fellow believer.

Just two days after making an inappropriate comment at a rally about a well-known golfer’s anatomy and using offensive language to disrespect Vice President Kamala Harris, Mr. Trump discussed the significance of faith in his existence, recalling his church attendance as a child and framing his survival of an assassination attempt in Butler, Pa., as a matter of divine intervention.

However, while appealing to Christian voters by claiming to be one of them, Mr. Trump avoided directly addressing a topic that had previously mobilized evangelicals in his favor but now presents a political challenge: his involvement in overturning Roe v. Wade.

Though Mr. Trump did highlight his appointments of three conservative Supreme Court justices as one of his successes, he did not mention or acknowledge that those justices were key in the ruling that rescinded the constitutional right to abortion. In a speech lasting nearly an hour before an audience that included evangelical leaders, he did not reference Roe or abortion, nor did he use the term “pro-life.”

Mr. Trump perceives abortion as his greatest weakness in the upcoming presidential election after it proved detrimental to Republicans in the 2022 midterms. He sought to soften anti-abortion language within the official Republican Party platform and has issued conflicting statements about abortion as he tries to attract moderate voters while satisfying social conservatives.

Instead of underscoring that issue, Mr. Trump concentrated on depicting his political rivals as antagonistic to religion, reviving false and misleading assertions that Christians—and particularly Roman Catholics—would be at risk if Ms. Harris were to assume the presidency.

He pointed out that Ms. Harris had indicated support for eliminating the Senate filibuster, accusing her of wanting to expand the Supreme Court “to overturn your values.” Under a Harris administration, he cautioned, “the radical left will not leave Christians in peace. It is only going to intensify, and you will suffer immensely.”

Mr. Trump has indicated that he believes a significant showing of religious voters could be crucial for his success in competitive states. On Wednesday, he will participate in a town-hall-style forum at a church in Zebulon, Ga., an event his campaign claims will focus on religious liberty.

Mr. Trump has criticized Christians for not voting sufficiently, and his gathering in Concord, a suburb of Charlotte, was an effort to boost their participation. Inside a convention center, the ambiance blended elements of a lively Trump rally and an evangelical worship service. In a typical campaign event, Mr. Trump’s crowds commonly chant “U.S.A.!” and “Trump!” as a show of their enthusiasm. This time, however, the initial group chant during Mr. Trump’s address was

“Jesus!”

At one point, Mr. Trump shared his amazement at having observed the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale, a renowned self-help author and pastor who passed away in 1993. Mr. Trump mentioned that Mr. Peale had a significant influence on him.

As Mr. Trump was concluding the tale, a voice from the crowd shouted, “Let’s go Brandon,” a right-wing expression that substitutes for a crude insult aimed at President Biden. Mr. Trump’s attempts to engage evangelical voters have occasionally been awkward. During his 2016 run, he faced mockery for calling Second Corinthians “Two Corinthians” as he sought support from evangelicals. This year, his endorsement of a viral video portraying him as a divine messenger sent to save America upset faith leaders in Iowa.

Concord marked Mr. Trump’s third stop that day in North Carolina, a pivotal state that he conquered in both 2016 and 2020 and which his campaign considers vital to his aspirations of regaining the presidency.

He started the day with a press conference in areas of western North Carolina affected by storms, where he condemned the Biden administration’s handling of Hurricane Helene and made inaccurate claims about the federal response.

Subsequently, he proceeded to Greenville, N.C., for a rally where he relentlessly criticized the federal hurricane response, hurled personal insults at Ms. Harris, and inflamed fears regarding illegal immigration. He also reiterated his calls to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport gang members without due process. “Just think about that, 1798,” Mr. Trump said to the audience. “That’s when we had genuine politicians who were committed to not playing games. We need to return to 1798.”