Franklin Graham has zero hope in Democratic and Republican parties

Evangelist Franklin Graham was in Pierre, South Dakota on May 24, where he told thousands of people how the United States is in a very bad situation and it needs to go in a different direction.

"Our nation is in trouble," he said to those gathered at the South Dakota State Capitol. "We're in trouble spiritually, racially, economically, and politically."

Graham made it clear during his speech that he is not endorsing any candidate and he is not backing any party as he has no confidence in either one.

"Right now I have zero hope in the Democratic Party. Zero. All right?," he said. "Before you Republicans start high fiving each other, I have zero hope in the Republican Party. All right?"

He told the crowd that doesn't see much difference between the two parties, adding, "And I can tell you the only hope for this nation is God."

According to KSFY, almost 3,000 people attended the event. Among them is a man who travelled from Hitchcock, who said that to him, "everything seems to be upside-down" and in chaos right now, and he thinks that the nation "needs to turn back to the Lord." A woman who was traveling through with her husband believes that prayer is needed for the country to get better.

Graham went to Bismarck, North Dakota the next day where around 3,100 people gathered.

"I challenged Christians to get involved, to vote, and to run for office at all levels, local, state, and national," he wrote on Facebook. "If God is leading you to run for an office–school board, county commissioners, mayor, etc.–let me know. God can work through His people, and He can turn this nation around."

Graham's appearances in North and South Dakota are part of his 50-state tour called "Decision America Tour 2016," wherein he challenges Christians "to live out their faith at home, in public and at the ballot box." Up next on his itinerary is Springfield, Illinois on June 14; then Madison, Wisconsin on June 15; and St. Paul, Minnesota on June 16. After that, he will head to Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, and 16 other states, the last of which is North Carolina on Oct. 13.