The Resurgence of Conservative Christianity with Donald J. Trump

Eight years ago, many conservative Christians found themselves questioning whether Donald J. Trump, newly elected as president, would truly serve as their champion. After enduring the Obama years, a period marked by the rise of liberal values that often left them feeling marginalized and powerless, their hopes were tenuous at best.

However, Mr. Trump delivered on his promises. His commitment to “my beautiful Christians” bore fruit even after he exited the White House, culminating in a historic moment when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, effectively dismantling the constitutional right to abortion.

Now, as Mr. Trump celebrates a sweeping re-election victory, conservative Christians feel they have reached unprecedented heights of influence and power. They perceive his return not merely as an electoral mandate but as a divine calling.

In recent months, Mr. Trump has frequently alluded to a religious anointing, especially following a harrowing assassination attempt he survived in July. When he took to the stage to declare victory on Tuesday night, he reiterated this sentiment.

“Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason,” Mr. Trump proclaimed to his supporters. “And that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness.”

This assertion is remarkable, particularly for a president who once described himself as a “dictator”—even if he was only joking on his first day in office. While political leaders have long invoked God or referenced biblical passages in their rhetoric, the nation now finds itself in a transformative era. In this new landscape, Mr. Trump is not just the leader of the Republican Party; he has emerged as the de facto figurehead of conservative American Christianity.