Ideas The power of white evangelical Christians in MAGA politics
May 9, 2025
Kristin Kobes Du Mez, a Professor of History and author, dives into the crucial role of white evangelical Christians in sustaining Trump’s political support. She discusses the community’s historical shift from egalitarianism to a patriarchal structure, and how this impacts gender dynamics in faith practices. The conversation also highlights the chilling effect of dehumanizing language and calls for accountability among evangelical leaders to confront nationalism. With a critical lens, Du Mez uncovers the complexities within evangelicalism and its political entanglements.
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Evangelical Political Influence
- White evangelical Christians have been a consistent and influential voting bloc supporting Donald Trump around 80% for nearly a decade.
- Their political influence extends deeply into issues like abortion and democratic norms in the USA.
Evangelicalism's Global Reach
- Evangelicalism functions as a network crossing borders, influencing countries like Canada, Australia, Brazil, Britain, and China.
- The fate of American democracy may depend on how moderate evangelicals respond to rising authoritarianism.
Authoritarian Tendencies Among Evangelicals
- Many white evangelicals believe the 2020 election was stolen, and a significant portion condone possible violence to "save the country."
- Moderate evangelicalism in many cases aligns with authoritarian tendencies rather than opposing them.
