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Donald Trump - Religion

Trump dialed into "Fox & Friend" on 18 August 2025 and worried he might not get into heaven after he dies. "I want to try and get to heaven, if possible," he explained. "I'm hearing I'm not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons." While Trump has identified as a non-denominational Christian, opinions on his religious sincerity and eternal fate vary widely among different Christian groups. Most Christian traditions emphasize that eternal judgment is God's alone. However, common theological differences influence how different Christians might approach the question of any individual's fate. Critics, including some Christians, point to Trump's public statements -- like telling a journalist in 2015 that he has never asked for God's forgiveness -- as evidence of a lack of repentance incompatible with genuine Christian faith.

Some evangelicals continue to support Trump, believing he is chosen by God despite personal failings. Many evangelicals believe salvation is received solely through faith in Jesus Christ, and attempting to earn one's way into heaven through good works is considered unbiblical. Russell Moore advised Trump, "Give up that mindset of earning your way there. You have to recognize your own need for something you can't win or achieve or earn".

The comments were later used in a fundraising appeal. His increasing use of religious language has also been noted since surviving an assassination attempt in July 2024, an event he believes God intervened in "TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!". Trump had publicly reflected on the afterlife before. The New York Times reported that he had previously suggested that his success as a political leader was a sign of divine help. In 2024, after being convicted on 34 felony counts, he remarked at a rally, "Now my beautiful parents are up in heaven, I think they are... they say, 'How did this happen to my son?'".

Donald Trump was raised as a Presbyterian and confirmed in 2020 that he is now a "nondenominational Christian". He surrounds himself with evangelical advisors, and his public faith appeals strongly to many white evangelical voters. Trump's religious sincerity has been met with skepticism and outright criticism from many Christians. Some critics point to his past comments suggesting he had never asked God for forgiveness as evidence of a lack of repentance that conflicts with genuine Christian faith. Critics also highlight the apparent contradictions between some of his policies, such as his past strict stance on immigration, and the biblical emphasis on welcoming and caring for strangers. Pope Francis has, in the past, suggested that focusing on building walls rather than bridges is "not Christian," a sentiment echoed by some evangelical leaders.

The lead spiritual advisor to Donald Trump is televangelist Paula White-Cain, who was appointed to lead the new White House Faith Office in February 2025. In addition to White-Cain, Trump has a broader advisory network of pastors and faith leaders from various backgrounds. A prominent figure in the charismatic movement, White-Cain is a proponent of prosperity theology and runs Paula White Ministries. She has a decades-long relationship with Trump, and her ministry has been a central part of his religious outreach.

In May 2025, Trump announced the advisory boards for the new Religious Liberty Commission, which included leaders from various faith backgrounds. Members included Robert Jeffress, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas. Jeffress was a vocal supporter and informal faith adviser to Trump since his first campaign. Kenneth Copeland, a televangelist associated with prosperity gospel. Bishop Kevin Rhoades chaired a committee that sought to deny communion for then-President Joe Biden over his support for reproductive rights, as well. This commission was designed more to enforce strict adherence to far-right religious doctrines than to protect religious liberty. Strict separation was the standard Baptist position until the late 20th century. "They say separation between church and state, they told me. I said, ‘All right, let's forget about that for one time,'" Trump said at the White House event. The main commission was chaired by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a vocal Christian nationalist.

White evangelical support for Donald Trump remains exceptionally strong, and analysis in 2024 and 2025 indicates it is based on a complex mix of political alignment, cultural grievances, and theological interpretations. Trump's comments in a fundraising email referenced his survival of a 2024 assassination attempt, stating his belief that "God saved me for one reason: TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!".

On July 13, 2024, during a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania. 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire from a nearby rooftop with an AR-15–style rifle. Trump was wounded when a bullet grazed his upper right ear. An audience member, firefighter Corey Comperatore, was killed, and two other attendees were critically injured. A Secret Service counter-sniper shot and killed Crooks.

Trump, his family, and many of his supporters, especially within evangelical Christianity, described his survival of the July 2024 assassination attempt as a "miracle". This framing has reinforced the belief among his base that he is a divinely chosen figure with a specific mission to lead the United States. Following the shooting, Trump stated, "I was saved by God to Make America Great Again". He also posted on Truth Social that "God alone prevented the unthinkable from happening". Trump has emphasized the narrow margin of his survival, noting that the bullet grazed his ear. In an August 2024 interview, he stated that if he hadn't turned his head at the right moment, he "would not be alive" and that his survival was a "miracle".

In a September 2024 interview, former First Lady Melania Trump called her husband's survival a "miracle," stating, "he could not be with us". Some of Trump's children privately connected his survival to the anniversary of their mother Ivana Trump's death, seeing it as "divine intervention". For many white evangelicals, Trump is seen as a political champion who delivers on key policy goals important to their voting base. A major driver of evangelical support has been Trump's appointment of conservative judges, most notably his three appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court, which led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

For many evangelicals who already believed Trump was anointed by God, the assassination attempt was seen as proof of his special status. Some pointed to the incident as evidence that God still protects his chosen instruments. This incident strengthened the "King Cyrus" narrative, where some supporters frame Trump as a secular leader chosen by God for a specific purpose, despite his personal faults. Supporters and delegates at the Republican National Convention after the shooting frequently used religious language, with some saying that God "delivered" Trump. Senator Tim Scott stated, "If you didn't believe in miracles before Saturday, you better be believing right now".

The perception of a miraculous survival significantly impacted Trump's campaign, intensifying religious fervor among his base and framing the election as a spiritual battle. This framing helped elevate the political stakes for his supporters, viewing opposition as potentially "evil" or "diabolical".

Some far-right figures used biblical numerology, linking the shooting time to Ephesians 6:11, which discusses the "armor of God". Ephesians 6:11 is part of a passage that encourages believers to "Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil". This verse is a call to spiritual preparedness, using the metaphor of an ancient soldier's armor to represent the spiritual protections God provides for the battle against evil forces, not against human beings.

Trump could be the Beast of Revelation 13, which reads "1. And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

This verse, within the broader context of Revelation 13, depicts a powerful, seemingly resurrected figure or system that gains the awe and worship of the world, with the healed wound signifying an impossible recovery or revival. Several Marvel characters have story arcs that incorporate themes, imagery, or specific elements from the biblical Book of Revelation, which describes a Beast with a "mortal wound that was healed".

Revelation 13:3 describes the apocalyptic "beast from the sea" receiving a mortal wound that is then healed, causing the entire world to follow and worship it in amazement. The passage is highly symbolic and open to various interpretations, with commentators often seeing the beast as representing a wicked empire or a specific world leader. The "beast from the sea" is typically understood as a political or religious power opposing God, empowered by Satan. The mortal wound and its healing are often seen as a deceptive miracle, mimicking Christ's resurrection. This event can symbolize a powerful empire's apparent destruction and subsequent revival. The world's reaction of marveling and following the beast highlights a susceptibility to deceptive displays of power.

The idea of Trump as the Antichrist has been popularized on platforms like Reddit and Twitter, where users have shared lists of perceived parallels between Trump's characteristics and actions and biblical descriptions of the Antichrist. This has included references to Trump's ego, his use of gold imagery, and his polarizing rhetoric. Some authors have written books exploring the potential connections between Trump and the Antichrist, using biblical prophecy and pop culture references. One analysis compares Trump to Nicolae Carpathia, the fictional Antichrist from the popular evangelical book series Left Behind.

Following his 2024 election win and the 2024 assassination attempt, many evangelical leaders interpreted Trump's victory and survival as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. They view his rise as a key step in re-establishing a Christian identity in America. Many evangelical leaders have compared Trump to King Cyrus, a pagan king from the Old Testament whom God used to fulfill his divine purposes. This framing allows supporters to reconcile Trump's secular lifestyle and unconventional personal conduct with their belief that he is "God's anointed".

Many white evangelicals feel their religious freedom is under threat and view Trump as their protector. In 2025, his administration continued to focus on policies that favor conservative Christians, such as encouraging religion in the federal workplace. Pew Research Center polling in April 2025 found that three-quarters of white evangelicals approved of Trump's moves to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and his cuts to federal departments.

The feeling of being culturally marginalized is a significant factor. Trump's "us vs. them" rhetoric resonates with many white evangelicals who feel under siege by secular culture and left-leaning political forces. Many view Trump as a powerful, uncompromising figure who is willing to fight their enemies and "take a stand" against perceived threats to traditional values.

A powerful predictor of Trump support is an affinity for Christian nationalism, the belief that the U.S. was founded as and should remain a Christian nation. In a December 2024 PRRI survey, 60% of white evangelical Protestants agreed that God had ordained Trump to win the 2024 election. Some analysts suggest that this feeling of fragility, combined with desires for a return to traditional social order, is linked to social and racial animus.

Many white evangelicals have developed theological explanations to justify supporting a candidate whose personal behavior can seem at odds with Christian virtues. The "Cyrus" parallel: Some evangelical leaders have likened Trump to King Cyrus of ancient Persia, a pagan king whom God used to achieve His purposes. This allows supporters to frame Trump as "God's anointed" or "chosen," despite his personal failings. Following Trump's election in 2016, some evangelical leaders began to emphasize that character and morality were less important in a leader than delivering on desired policy outcomes.

Divine mandate: In recent years, Trump himself and many of his evangelical supporters have expressed the belief that he was saved from an assassination attempt for a divine purpose.

While support is widespread, there are some dissenting views and critiques from within evangelicalism. Some evangelical leaders have criticized certain Trump policies, such as his immigration stance and proposed cuts to USAID programs that address global health issues like HIV/AIDs. The willingness to overlook Trump's ethical and moral issues has been a point of contention for some who feel that a leader's character is important.

Evangelicals for Harris: Even with Trump's overwhelming support among white evangelicals, some have campaigned to win over evangelical voters for opponents like Kamala Harris.

Polling data from the 2024 election showed that Trump's support among white evangelicals continued to be robust, reaching approximately 83% of the vote. Despite their outsized political influence, white evangelical Protestants are a shrinking portion of the U.S. population. However, they continue to turn out to vote in higher numbers than their share of the population.

Many mainstream Christian groups have voiced concern that the politicization of faith and the blurring of the lines between church and state under Trump pose a greater threat to Christianity than any perceived bias against religion.

In February 2016, Baylor University professor Francis Beckwith wrote a column for The Catholic Thing that was critical of Donald Trump as a presidential candidate. He said Trump was a flawed candidate who had "tapped into an anger that is very real in America". He further said Baptist pastors Jerry Falwell and Robert Jeffress "seemed to set aside their critical faculties in their assessment of Trump. For these are men who – reared on the cadence emanating from those old sawdust revivals – are suckers for good preaching that can move the pilgrim from his mercy seat. And Trump is a damn good preacher. So much so that many evangelicals don't seem to notice the un-Christian personal insults, slurs, arrogance, mendacity and incoherence. Which just goes to show you that not only is a sucker born every minute; sometimes he's born again".