During his 2016 presidential campaign, prominent American pastor and religious figure Robert Jeffress noted that evangelical Christians were supporting then-candidate Donald Trump. Jeffress has been a prominent figure in the evangelical community and is well-known for leading a sizable congregation at First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas.

Jeffress was making the point that many Trump supporters weren't necessarily searching for someone who would prioritize conservative religious values or lead Bible studies. Rather, these supporters looked for a president who would address issues that were important to them, such as national security and economic stability. In the same way that people might seek a mechanic rather than a doctor for their car's problems, they might seek someone who is good at solving particular issues rather than someone who is only interested in religious rituals.

This claim emphasizes the nuanced interplay between politics and religion in the United States. Although many voters, especially those in evangelical communities, place a high value on faith, pragmatic considerations like job security and safety also have a big impact on their choices. Jeffress's remark sheds light on how pragmatic factors, as opposed to just ideological alignment, can drive political support.

The quote essentially conveys the idea that followers are more interested in observable outcomes from their leaders than in religious devotion or symbolic actions. It implies that when people seek assistance from a candidate, they frequently do so in the hopes of finding tangible answers rather than necessarily having similar spiritual aspirations.