Donald Trump tells conservative Values Voters conference they will be 'allowed to say Merry Christmas again'

President said 'political correctness' prevented traditional Christmas greetings

Donald Trump has told a conference organised by a hard line Christian group that Americans will be allowed to “say Merry Christmas again”.

Mr Trump was the first sitting President to address the Values Voter Summit, hosted by the Family Research Council, who have been classified as an anti-LGBT hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Centre (SPLC).

The President said the views of religous leaders would not "be silenced any longer".

"How times have changed, but you know what, now they are changing back again, just remember that," Mr Trump told the cheering crowd.

The President bemoaned the use of the phrase "Happy Holidays" as a secular seasonal greeting and vowed a return to "Merry Christmas".

He said: “As we approach the end of the year, we’re getting into that beautiful Christmas season that people don’t talk about anymore.

“They don’t use the word ‘Christmas’ because it’s not politically correct. You go to department stores and they’ll say ‘Happy New Year’ and other things. And it’ll be red, they’ll have it painted but they don’t say [it].

“Well guess what? We’re saying ‘Merry Christmas’ again.”

The remarks were met with a standing ovation.

Summit organisers also gave out a leaflet on the “health hazards of homosexuality,” authored by MassResistance, another group designated as hateful by the SPLC.

Mr Trump has significantly developed his image as a Christian since announcing his intention to run for President, in a bid to tap into the powerful evangelical voting bloc, it is believed.

Speaking to the summit, Mr Trump said religious liberty was “enshrined” in the nation's founding documents.

He continued: "I pledged that in a Trump administration, our nation's religious heritage would be cherished, protected and defended like you have never seen before."

"Above all else in America, we don't worship government. We worship God."

Additional reporting by agencies.