Bernie Sanders got a polite reception at Liberty University last year. Trump will probably be received with more enthusiasm.

The Washington Post reports.

Donald Trump will speak at Liberty University, where he finds a friend in Jerry Falwell Jr.

Donald Trump will speak at Liberty University’s first convocation this year, addressing thousands of young evangelicals on Jan. 18 when students return to campus.

Liberty University has served as a a hub for conservative politics, owing much of its rapid growth to federal student loans made possible by President Obama. Several evangelical leaders have frantically searched for ways to defeat Trump in the GOP presidential primaries by supporting other candidates, but Liberty will be welcoming Trump with open arms.

Liberty’s president, Jerry Falwell Jr., has generally stayed out of the political spotlight — unlike his late father, who founded the school. But Falwell made waves in December for urging students to carry concealed weapons so “we could end those Muslims before they walked in,” clarifying later that he was referring to the November attacks in Paris and the shootings in San Bernardino, Calif.

On a recent Fox News segment, Falwell said his three favorite presidential contenders are Republicans Trump, Ben Carson and Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.). “I think Trump reminds me so much of my father,” Falwell said on the show. “He says exactly what he thinks no matter what anybody cares.”

Jerry Falwell Sr. was an architect of the old Religious Right and one of the first megachurch leaders to develop a large media following in the 20th century. He was known for his charisma, his activism and his controversial remarks. After Sept. 11, 2001, Falwell Sr. blamed abortion providers, feminists, gays and the American Civil Liberties Union for the terrorist attacks, later apologizing for his remarks. During the primary season, Trump has targeted “political correctness,” channeling a widespread frustration among Republican voters.