Associated Press
As Donald Trump increasingly infuses his campaign with Christian trappings while coasting to a third Republican presidential nomination, his support is as strong as ever among evangelicals and other conservative Christians.
“Trump supports Jesus, and without Jesus, America will fall,” said Kimberly Vaughn of Florence, Kentucky, as she joined other supporters of the former president entering a campaign rally near Dayton, Ohio.
Many of the T-shirts and hats that were worn and sold at the rally in March proclaimed religious slogans such as “Jesus is my savior, Trump is my president” and “God, Guns & Trump.” One man’s shirt declared, “Make America Godly Again,” with the image of a luminous Jesus putting his supportive hands on Trump’s shoulders.
Many attendees said in interviews they believed Trump shared their Christian faith and values. Several cited their opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, particularly to transgender expressions.
And for many, Trump is a champion of Christianity and patriotism.
“I believe he believes in God and our military men and women, in our country, in America,” said Tammy Houston of New Lexington, Ohio.
“I put my family first, and on a larger scale, it’s America first,” said Sherrie Cotterman of Sidney, Ohio. “And I would any day of the week, take a president that openly knows he needs the strength from God over his own.”
In many ways, this is a familiar story.
About 8 in 10 white evangelical Christians supported Trump in 2020, according to AP VoteCast, and Pew Research Center’s validated voter survey found that a similar share supported him in 2016.
But this is a new campaign, and that support has remained durable — even though Republican voters in the early primaries had several openly conservative Christian candidates to choose from, none of whom faced the legal troubles and misconduct allegations that Trump does. In the Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina Republican primary contests earlier this year, Trump won between 55% and 69% of white evangelical voters, according to AP VoteCast.
The Ohio rally, like other Trump events, featured a recording of the national anthem sung by some of those convicted for crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, whom Trump called “patriots.”
At the rally’s entrance, one group handed out pamphlets urging attendees both to “trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation” and to support the “J6 patriots.”
Caleb Cinnamon, 37, of Dayton, identified as a Christian and said opposing abortion is a top priority. He cited Trump’s three Supreme Court appointments, who proved decisive in the 2022 decision overturning of the Roe v. Wade precedent that had legalized abortion nationwide.
Earlier this year, Trump hit multiple applause lines in speaking to a conservative audience at the National Religious Broadcasters convention.
“We will protect Christians in our schools and in our military and our government,” Trump said. “We will protect God in our public square. … I will protect the content that is pro-God.”
Trump pledged a federal task force to fight the “persecution against Christians in America” and “the toxic poison of gender ideology,” saying “God created two genders, male and female.”
Trump’s rallies take on the symbols, rhetoric and agenda of Christian nationalism, which typically includes a belief that America was founded to be a Christian nation and seeks to privilege Christianity in public life.
Trump endorsed a Bible edition that includes U.S. founding documents and the lyrics to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.”
At the Ohio rally, some said they believed the nation or its founding documents, such as the Bill of Rights, had Christian origins, though historians dispute such assertions.
Some Trump supporters voiced hope for a more Christian America.
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Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
17 comments
My Take
May 18, 2024 at 12:36 pm
They believe Trump–TRUMP?–is a good Christian?
You could hardly get more delusional.
Dont Say FLA
May 19, 2024 at 1:19 pm
I think they don’t believe Trump to be a good Christian.
Their enthusiam for Trump is an admission of who THEY are, and they’re just like Trump.
All their Jesus stuff is just a bunch of nonsense. Their support of Trump is an open admission of it.
Ocean Joe
May 20, 2024 at 11:09 am
If you fervently opposed abortion under any circumstances, you’d like Trump too, even though all he did was appoint whoever he was told to, by the Federalist Society to the high court.
You’d also worship Mitch McConnell for his political skills to make it all possible, and RBG for staying too long. McConnell stroked out on live tv and he’s still the GOP senate leader. More proof how despised Ricky must be.
Richard D
May 18, 2024 at 1:57 pm
Christianity wasn’t a significant part of early America. Many, or most. of America’s founders were Freemasons, not Christians, and they wanted to make sure that church and state would remain separate in the U.S. George Washington, our first president, was a Freemason. Freemasons believe in a non-specific supreme being, which might not be the same one as in Christian mythology. The Catholic church explicitly despises Freemasonry because it doesn’t conform with Catholic doctrine. Evangelicals have adopted the same anti-Freemasonry ideology as the Catholics. Potentially, Christian nationalism, promoted by evangelicals, will be a deadly threat to the lives and property of everyone who isn’t a Christian. “Christian nationalism” means that they want everyone to be a Christian, through voluntary or forced conversion if necessary. Francisco Franco’s “National Catholicism” was the prototypical modern version of Christian nationalism, a church-and-state dictatorship.
rick whitaker
May 19, 2024 at 1:38 pm
RICHARDD , i went to barcelona when franco was president. the place was spotless compared to other european conutries, but everyone seemed scared all the time.
Tom
May 20, 2024 at 7:21 am
“Freemasons believe in a non-specific supreme being, which might not be the same one as in Christian mythology.”
To become a Mason, you have to affirm that you believe in a higher power. Whether you subscribe to any ‘organized’ religions or not makes no difference. I’m not sure the Catholic church cares about Mason’s one way or the other. It sounds like you might be buying into some of the conspiracy theories floating around the inter web.
Dont Say FLA
May 18, 2024 at 3:47 pm
When churchy types meet new people, one of the very first questions they ask is, “What church do you go to?”
What church is it that Trump goes to? I don’t recall. I don’t even recall what brand Trump belongs to.
Everybody knows Sleepy Joe is Catholic, but what is Trump?
rick whitaker
May 19, 2024 at 12:08 pm
DSF , everything christians do has something to do with power/ money manipulation. trump is their kindred brother in that persuit.
ScienceBLVR
May 18, 2024 at 3:50 pm
“Awwwww, religion? It’s all just a bunch of hooey”, as gramps used to say between streams of tobacco juice expertly lobbed into the coffee can on the corner of the porch.
My Take
May 18, 2024 at 6:28 pm
When/if Trump loses, what will these lost sheep do, when God has forsaken them?
Dont Say FLA
May 19, 2024 at 10:10 am
Same as last time: They’ll double down on their stolen election fairy tale as if it were, ahem, gospel.
Evan Collins
May 19, 2024 at 11:56 am
I always believed the Trump following is a ‘CULT” no grey matter between the ears – a rock has more common sense then these ‘so-call’ Christians – so they believe Christ would do like Trump – “grab a women by the cr…”
Earl Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
May 19, 2024 at 6:13 pm
Good evening Sage Patriots,
The above back & forth echo chamber exchange of “Dook 4 Brains Leftist” wackey talking points takes us back to the “Pre-Historic” trouble times prior to the Great Day when a New Sheriff rode into town.
He was tall and good looking too. And he went by the name of Earl Elvis Pitts American. Thank God for him. Now, thanks to Earl-Elvis this business is now a thriving money-maker where the open and honest viewpoints are exchanged.
We all owe Sheriff Pitts a “Tip of The Hat” along with a debt we can never re-pay.
Thank you Earl-Elvis Pitts American.
*join us next Monday as our greatfull nation celebrates “Earl-Elvis” Pitts American Day*
rick whitaker
May 20, 2024 at 10:16 am
ANOTHER STUPID COMMENT BY EARL, ELVIS, SPHINCTER MAN
Josh Green
May 20, 2024 at 10:15 pm
Evangelical Christians are garbage people, and it will be hilarious once they find themselves in Hell.
Jojo
May 21, 2024 at 7:41 am
In what world do these Trump supporters believe this man has ANY religious bone in his body? The “ trappings” of religion hits the nail on the head. The only thing this cretin believes in is himself.
rick whitaker
May 21, 2024 at 2:37 pm
JOJO , most maga christians are going on faith that trump is going to be a good choice to run our country. taking things on faith instead of using your eyes and ears is a christian and dangerous thing.
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