President Donald Trump is standing by his decision to pose with a Bible outside St. Johns Church in Washington on Monday a stunt that drew swift and harsh rebukes from two of the citys top prelates.

Most religious leaders loved it, Trump insisted in a Fox News radio interview about a photo shoot that took place after law enforcement officers forcefully dispersed a peaceful demonstration against the police killing of George Floyd.

I think it was very symbolic. I did hold up a Bible. I think thats a good thing, not a bad thing, and many religious leaders loved it, Trump told the shows host, Fox anchor Brian Kilmeade, on Wednesday.

Why wouldnt they love it? Im standing in front of a church that went through trauma to put it mildly, Trump said.

Trump pointed specifically to the support hes received from evangelist Franklin Graham and Robert Jeffress , a Dallas pastor, for posing in front of the historic Episcopal church, which was damaged during Sunday protests against police brutality toward Black Americans.

Trump also tried to distance himself from the aggressive maneuvers used by police to clear protesters from Lafayette Square, a park near St. Johns Church, to allow Trump passage to the photo op. The president insisted that officers didnt use tear gas on the protesters, although they did , at least according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions definition of tear gas and other riot control agents.

They didnt use tear gas. They didnt use they moved them out, Trump said. Now when I went, I didnt say move them out. I didnt know who was there.