Evangelist Franklin Graham said in a statement Thursday that President Barack Obama had "shaken his fist" at God when he affirmed his support for same-sex marriage.
Graham, a North Carolina resident and the son of Billy Graham, noted the constitutional amendment passed by his state Tuesday to ban gay marriage, and slammed Obama for changing his position on the issue, calling it "a sad day for America."
Obama announced Wednesday during an interview with ABC that he supported the right of same-sex couples to marry.
"While the move to pass amendments defining marriage is relatively new, the definition of marriage is 8,000 years old and was defined not by man, but by God Himself," Graham said in a statement. "In changing his position from that of senator/candidate Obama, President Obama has, in my view, shaken his fist at the same God who created and defined marriage. It grieves me that our president would now affirm same-sex marriage, though I believe it grieves God even more."
Graham has a history of criticizing Obama. In February, he questioned the president's religious beliefs, saying he was not sure whether he was a Christian. He also said it seemed as though "Muslims are getting a pass" from the Obama administration.
Below, reactions to Obama's announcement from around the political world:
