Paula White-Cain is an American televangelist, pastor, and author who currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office. She has been a prominent spiritual advisor to Donald Trump for over two decades and is a leading figure in the charismatic Christian movement.

 

Who is "Paula White-Cain, a senior adviser in White House Faith Office?

Paula White-Cain is an American televangelist, pastor, and author who currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office. She has been a prominent spiritual advisor to Donald Trump for over two decades and is a leading figure in the charismatic Christian movement.

 

Current White House Role

On February 7, 2025, President Trump established the White House Faith Office via executive order and appointed White-Cain to lead it.

Mission: The office is designed to assist faith-based and community organizations in strengthening families, promoting self-sufficiency, and protecting religious liberty.

Responsibilities: White-Cain coordinates with federal agencies to identify grant opportunities for religious groups and advises the president on policies affecting houses of worship.

 

Recent Activity & Controversies

Easter Comparison: In April 2026, White-Cain drew widespread criticism for remarks at a White House Easter event where she compared Donald Trump’s legal challenges and public trials to the suffering of Jesus Christ, stating that "no one has paid the price like you have paid the price".

Tithing Appeals: She recently faced backlash for a YouTube video urging followers to tithe "the first 10% of your gross income" to her ministry, which she stated would support various causes, including rebuilding projects in Israel.

Prosperity Theology: She is a well-known proponent of prosperity theology, the belief that financial success is a sign of God's favor, a teaching that has made her a polarizing figure among other Christian leaders.

 

Background and Career

Early Life: Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, she overcame a traumatic childhood involving poverty and abuse before converting to Christianity in 1984.

Ministry: She co-founded the Without Walls International Church in Tampa, Florida, which grew into one of the largest congregations in the U.S. before facing financial difficulties and bankruptcy in 2014.

Trump Connection: Trump first contacted her in 2002 after seeing her television program, Paula White Today. She later chaired his evangelical advisory board in 2016 and delivered the invocation at his 2017 inauguration, becoming the first female clergy member to do so.

Personal Life: She is currently married to Jonathan Cain, the keyboardist for the rock band Journey.