Mike Huckabee: 'There is No Religious Test' to Become President

2016 presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee has said that he cares more about the authenticity of a leader's religion rather than their actual religious beliefs. 

In an interview with recent Newsmax TV, Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, said he is less concerned with the faith of the Commander-in-Chief compared to how the president lives out his faith while in office.

"There is no religious test to hold public office in America," Huckabee told the media outlet. "I am less concerned about what faith a person has. I am more concerned about the authenticity of their faith, and how that plays out in their policies."

Huckabee then pointed to current President Barack Obama, arguing that although the president claims to be Christian, he has enacted some policies that conflict with Christian beliefs.

Huckabee's comments come after retired neurosurgeon and 2016 presidential hopeful Ben Carson received criticism for recently saying that he doesn't believe a Muslim could hold the top political office in the nation unless they were able to relinquish their belief in Shariah Law and instead follow the U.S. Constitution.

Despite receiving criticism for his comments, Carson defended his argument in a follow-up Facebook post.

"I could never support a candidate for President of the United States that was Muslim and had not renounced the central tenant of Islam: Sharia Law," Carson wrote in a Facebook post this week.

"I know that there are many peaceful Muslims who do not adhere to these beliefs. But until these tenants are fully renounced…I cannot advocate any Muslim candidate for President," Carson added.