Franklin Graham on Trump Victory: God Was Changing Nation's Direction

Rev. Franklin Graham, one of six faith leaders praying at President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, said Thursday he had sensed all during the election season that God was "getting ready to do something to change the direction" of the nation as Trump pushed his way to winning the White House.

"I went to all 50 states this year," Graham, the son of Rev. Billy Graham, told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program. "I saw God begin to do something as I went across the country. People came and confessed the sins of our nation out loud before God and the country. They confessed their sins. They didn't come to hear me. They came to pray."

Graham said three of the religious leaders will perform the inauguration ceremony's invocation, while three perform its benediction, and he's "honored to be asked and to be a part of it."

"It's a great privilege to be able to to stand with the president and to be able to stand before the nation and focus on God for a few minutes," Graham told the program.

Graham said during his part of the event, he will read a passage of scripture from the New Testament, that will be "short, but it will be to the point."

Meanwhile, Graham took note of the division the country is going through, including the refusal of nearly 70 Democratic House of Representative members to attend the inauguration ceremonies on Friday, but insisted that Trump didn't divide the nation.

"This country has been divided for a long time," Graham said. "We do need to come together and we need to pray now more than ever. Our leadership needs prayer. Only God can fix this country."

Graham also did not blame the country's division on outgoing President Barack Obama directly, but said the division grew after he took office.

"It was divided before he came," said Graham, responding to a question from Fox News' Brian Kilmeade about why the president's approval ratings remain high while he's leaving office.

"I think we have continued to be divided more during his presidency," said Graham. "It's got to be reversed. The only way I know for it to be reversed is if we begin to pray and whether African-American churches, Anglo churches, pray for this nation."

Prayers aren't just needed for the Republican Party, but for God to heal the entire country, both Democrats and Republicans.

"We need God's help," said Graham.