Published in The New York Times
April 16, 2025
When Donald J. Trump left the White House in 2021, he did not leave the hearts of the 75 million Americans who voted for him. Many of those supporters—drawn from conservative Christian communities—have continued to embrace his brand of grievance-fueled nationalism, even as he now faces multiple criminal convictions and investigations. But their loyalty, especially among the faithful, raises a deeper question: How can those who profess to follow the Prince of Peace so fervently defend a man who thrives on division, deception, and defiance of the rule of law?
From a biblical perspective, the complicity of these voters in Trumpism’s ongoing assault on democratic norms reveals a profound moral and theological crisis. Scripture does not offer partisan endorsements, but it does offer a clear vision of justice, truth, and humility—values that have been repeatedly sacrificed on the altar of political power.
In Romans 13, the Apostle Paul exhorts believers to submit to governing authorities, for “there is no authority except that which God has established.” The rule of law, in this framework, is not merely a civic good; it is a divine mandate. Yet, in recent years, tens of millions of Americans—many of whom attend church regularly and quote Scripture fluently—have applauded Trump’s disdain for legal institutions, his refusal to accept electoral defeat, and his explicit promises to use the machinery of government to punish his enemies.
The irony is staggering. A political movement once rooted in “family values” and moral clarity now rallies behind a man whose words and actions often resemble those condemned by biblical prophets. Isaiah warned against leaders who “call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). Micah thundered against those “who despise justice and distort all that is right” (Micah 3:9). Yet, Trump has become not only tolerated but venerated by many believers, as if the pursuit of political victory justifies the abandonment of righteousness.
To be clear, not every Trump voter condones every action of the former president. Some were motivated by economic concerns, cultural frustrations, or a deeply felt sense of alienation. But when that vote becomes loyalty—when it morphs into a refusal to reckon with the implications of Trump’s authoritarian rhetoric and legal defiance—it becomes complicity.
The biblical concept of repentance—metanoia, a turning away from sin—is absent in this movement. Instead, we find defiance and denial, a doubling-down on narratives that cast Trump as a martyr, the victim of a vast conspiracy. It is not justice they seek, but vengeance. Not truth, but tribalism.
In the Old Testament, Israel was repeatedly warned against placing its trust in kings rather than in God. When the people demanded a king, the prophet Samuel warned them: “He will take your sons… he will take the best of your fields… and you yourselves will become his slaves” (1 Samuel 8). Today, too many American Christians have demanded a strongman and received one—at the cost of truth, integrity, and democratic accountability.
The erosion of the rule of law is not a future threat—it is a present reality. When Trump loyalists stormed the Capitol on January 6th, 2021, they did so under banners that read “Jesus Saves” alongside Confederate flags and QAnon slogans. That image—a grotesque fusion of faith and fanaticism—remains a warning. The line between the Cross and the crowd that shouted “Crucify him!” is thinner than we like to admit.
If America is to reclaim its legal and moral foundation, the Church must lead the way—not by wrapping itself in partisan flags, but by returning to its foundational teachings. That means speaking truth to power, even when the power wears a red tie and commands a voting bloc. It means honoring the rule of law, even when justice is inconvenient. It means, above all, remembering that our ultimate allegiance is not to a party or politician, but to a kingdom not of this world.
To the 75 million who voted for Trump, the call is not to shame, but to soul-searching. What does it profit a nation to gain a Supreme Court seat and lose its soul? The true test of faith is not how loudly we chant political slogans, but how faithfully we pursue justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.