With the imminent United States election, an examination of the role of Christian nationalism in American politics is critical. An ideology that seeks to maintain the fusion of the Christian religion with American civic life, Christian nationalism has emerged as a relatively new phenomenon. In 1956 Dwight D. Eisenhower made ‘In God We Trust’ the national motto and printed it on all US bank notes. Following this, in the late 1970s, America experienced a religious revivalism in which the roots of mega churches and televangelism (television evangelism) can be seen. Since the middle of the twentieth century, religion has become inextricably linked with American everyday life and begun to seep into mainstream politics.
The Christian right contend that America was founded as a Christian nation and that they are in the midst of a ‘cultural war’ against rising support for feminism, gay liberation and civil rights. Republican candidate, Donald Trump, has emerged as a figurehead for the Christian right, promising to “bring back Christianity in this country.” Like Trump’s predecessors, many believe he was placed in the White House by Divine Providence in 2016, and it is God’s plan for him to win the 2024 election.
Donald Trump’s 2024 election campaign has been accompanied by the biggest voter mobilisation from the Christian right. According to the think tank: the Baker Institute for public policy as of 2024, two thirds of Americans identify as Christian. Being more likely to align themselves politically with the Republican party, many see Donald Trump as a vehicle for restoring Christian dominance in America. Christians have an outsized influence on election outcomes, and thus pose the real possibility of swaying the vote rightward and having Trump elected for a second term.
Trump’s campaigns have been laced with Christian rhetoric with his promises to have a federal task force to fight the “persecution against Christians.” His rallies resemble religious sermons, with people wearing shirts with slogans such as ’Jesus is my saviour, Trump is my president’. This is unsurprising due to his close connections with religious figures such as Paula White, Florida MegaChurch owner, and Pastor Mark Burns. These connections and the religious rhetoric he applies cements the idea that God should be at the forefront of American life and American politics should follow the teachings of the Bible.
Although, as of early October, Kamala Harris is leading in several national polls by a small margin, the prospect of Donald Trump winning the election is a very real possibility and understood fully. Many fear that Trump winning with the support of the Christian right would lead to dramatic infringements on individual rights and inherently discriminatory policies would be sanctioned. Perhaps the most potent example being the dangers to women’s reproductive health. Despite Donald Trump refusing to back a full abortion ban in his current campaign, you only have to look at his past actions to discern both his stance on abortion rights and its potential future. In his first term, his three supreme court appointments were decisive in the majority vote in 2022 that overturned Roe v Wade (1971-73) which had ruled that the US Constitution generally protected the right to abortion. He is also outspoken in his desire to fight the “toxic poison of gender ideology.” A second term for Trump could have disastrous consequences for the LGBTQ+ community.
International relations are also at the fore for the Christian right. Since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza, American evangelists have been vocal in their support of Israel, both because of its importance as the Christian Holy Land. but also because Israel is deeply rooted in ideas of the End Times. For those who believe in The Rapture, (the transporting of believers to heaven at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ) conflict in the Middle East is just another progression towards this event. Donald Trump is a staunch supporter of Israel and, with Christian backing, it seems unlikely that there will be the same push for a two-state solution, as advocated for by Kamala Harris.
There is also growing anxiety about the strength of democracy in the event of Donald Trump being elected for a second term. Quoted in a Fox News interview Trump has declared that if he is elected, people will not have to vote again. Further clarifying that: “You won’t have to do it any more. Four more years, you know what? It’ll be fixed, it’ll be fine, you won’t have to vote any more, my beautiful Christians.” This falls in line with many evangelist and Christian right ideas of God’s special plan for America in the wider context of the End Times. However, many see this as a scary insight into the future of democratic institutions and practices under Trump's second presidency.
The Christian right are now more mobilised than ever, and within the context of the conflict in Gaza and mounting concerns over the future of women’s reproductive health, it is integral that their role in American politics is critically understood. The 2024 election will be a decisive point in American history, greatly influencing the trajectory of not just domestic affairs, but also international events.
