Trump surrogate and pastor: I ‘overstated’ my biography

A black pastor and vocal supporter of Donald Trump admitted he exaggerated his background Friday night as CNN teases a heated interview to air Saturday morning.

“As a young man starting my church in Greenville, South Carolina, I overstated several details of my biography because I was worried I wouldn’t be taken seriously as a new pastor,” Pastor Mark Burns said in a statement late Friday. “This was wrong. I wasn’t truthful then and I have to take full responsibility for my actions.

“Since that time I should have taken steps to correct any misrepresentations of my background. We all make mistakes, and I hope that the measure of my character and the quality of my works speak for what kind of person I am.”

I’M SO THANKFUL FOR A GOD WHO LOOKS BEYOND OUR FAULTS AND MEETS OUR NEEDS..I LOVE YOU ALL..! pic.twitter.com/TSnR27OY63

— Pastor Mark Burns (@pastormarkburns) September 3, 2016

{mosads}CNN is set to air an interview with Burns Saturday morning on “New Day” detailing “multiple inaccuracies in the pastor’s bio, including his service in the U.S. Army Reserves, his education and more.”

Burns did not specify which details of his personal biography he had exaggerated.

Burns on Friday accused the media of scrutinizing his history due to his race and support for Trump, the GOP’s presidential nominee.

“I do also want to set the record straight about why this attack is happening – because I am a black man supporting Donald Trump for president,” he said. “For too long, African-American votes have been taken for granted by Democratic politicians, and enough is enough.

“It’s a shame that the political insiders and the media choose to attack me because I’m not going to stay silent about Hillary Clinton’s pandering to our community. Instead, I’m going to tell people that there’s another option – an option that represents a positive vision that will unify our country. That’s why I have and will continue to tirelessly support Mr. Trump.”

On Monday Burns raised eyebrows when he shared an image of Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, in blackface.

“Black Americans, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES and let me use you again…see you again in 4 years,” he wrote, mocking Clinton.

Burns later Monday defended the controversial tweet, adding he regretted his delivery but not the message.

“This tweet is a frustration that I have as a black man here in America, and how I see African-Americans in many cases suffering throughout the country,” he said on MSNBC.

“The picture is designed to draw attention to the very fact that Hillary Clinton does pander and her policies are not good for African-Americans. It’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.”

Trump last month began expanding his outreach to minority voters, asking African-Americans in particular “what do you have to lose” by supporting him.

Trump has also repeatedly accused Clinton of being a “bigot” who only helps minorities when it serves her political ambition.