Donald Trump’s 2024 election campaign has been deeply intertwined with religious rhetoric, with many of his supporters viewing him as a divinely chosen leader. During his election night speech, Trump declared that God had spared his life for a specific purpose: to save and restore America.
Some evangelical Christians have embraced this narrative, with TV evangelist Hank Kunneman describing Trump as having a special “anointing” that frightens evil forces. Actor Jim Caviezel even jokingly referred to Trump as “the new Moses,” while many supporters have called him a “savior.”
Reverend Franklin Graham, a prominent evangelical leader, is convinced that God intervened during the recent assassination attempt on Trump, believing divine intervention saved his life. Graham argues that despite Trump’s controversial personal history, Christians should remember that “all of us have sinned.”
A key factor in Christian support for Trump has been his commitment to appointing anti-abortion judges to the Supreme Court. Graham sees this as evidence of Trump’s integrity and believes he will defend religious freedoms where Democrats would not.
The religious landscape in the United States has been changing dramatically. In the early 1990s, about 90% of US adults identified as Christians, but this figure has fallen to 64% in recent years. Trump capitalized on this decline, promising to restore power to Christian churches.
Voting patterns reveal significant religious divisions. White evangelical Protestant voters strongly supported Trump (72%), while black Protestants overwhelmingly backed his opponent (78%). This trend reflects a long-standing political alignment dating back to the 1960s civil rights movement.
Not all Christians support Trump, however. Reverend Monte Norwood from Atlanta criticizes Trump for demeaning various groups and describes white conservative Republican Christianity that ignores character as “hypocritical.”
The decline in religious affiliation is driven by multiple factors, including generational shifts and high-profile church abuse scandals. A PPRI study found that a third of American atheists or agnostics left their childhood religion due to such scandals.
Despite these challenges, Graham remains optimistic. He believes Trump will protect religious freedoms and prevent potentially restrictive progressive legislation regarding issues like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.
The election also showed some interesting shifts in voting patterns. Muslim voters in Michigan and Latino Catholics demonstrated unexpected support for Trump, likely influenced by factors like economic hardship and specific policy positions.
As the United States continues to evolve religiously and demographically, Trump’s appeal to traditionalist Christians represents a complex intersection of faith, politics, and cultural nostalgia. While some see him as a divine instrument, others view his religious rhetoric with skepticism.
The future of faith in the US remains uncertain, but Trump’s campaign has highlighted the ongoing significance of religious identity in American political discourse.
