Republican front runner Donald Trump has just announced that he won’t be attending the annual Values Voter Summit, causing Family Research Council president Tony Perkins to speculate that he just doesn’t want to talk to Evangelicals:

“We have got the Values Voters Summit coming up and Donald Trump has passed. He is not going to come,” Perkins said. “I think that is going to send a message to Evangelicals and values voters that he wants their support, but he is not really interested in having a conversation with them.”

Perkins went on to say that this was a bad time for Trump to avoid Evangelical voters, who are starting to tune in to the nomination process:

“I think that is probably about the time, in about three or four weeks, people are going to start thinking more seriously about this as we move forward into the year,” Perkins continued. “[Trump’s absence], whether it was intended to or not, it will send a message.”

When commenting on which candidates were in the best position to make their case to Evangelicals, Perkins had a surprising pick:

“I think Ted Cruz, among those who have held office, is doing better because he has shown that he is not the typical politician,” Perkins added. “His goal is to be a statesman and he is often times fighting against his own party.”

Sen. Cruz will be addressing the Values Voter Summit, along with every other GOP candidate except Trump, former New York Gov. George Pataki and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore.

Nick Arnold is a researcher for American Principles In Action.