Trump’s pitch to white Christian nationalists | The Current

Summary

In this insightful conversation, Bradley Onishi, author of *Preparing for War*, discusses the growing influence of white Christian nationalism in the U.S., particularly in the context of the 2024 election. Onishi explains how movements tied to cultural identity and religious beliefs are shaping political dynamics, with issues like abortion serving as key rallying points. He highlights the significance of Donald Trump's appeal to these groups and the threat posed to American democracy, raising concerns about the deepening divide and the potential erosion of democratic values in the face of religious extremism.

Takeaways

• 😀 Donald Trump's campaign has heavily targeted white Christian nationalists, with a focus on appealing to their cultural and political power.
• 😀 Trump's rhetoric includes invoking religious themes, such as claiming that God saved him from an assassination attempt and that the country needs a religious revival.
• 😀 White Christian nationalism is not just about religion but also about the belief that white Christians should hold greater political and cultural power in America.
• 😀 A significant portion of Americans (25-30%) believe the U.S. should be a Christian nation, with white Christian nationalists making up 15-17% of the population.
• 😀 White Christian nationalists, particularly evangelicals, see Trump's leadership as divinely ordained and align with his message of restoring America's 'Christian' identity.
• 😀 Trump's 'Make America Great Again' slogan resonates with white Christian nationalists, who idealize the 1950s as a time when they held more power before social movements for equality.
• 😀 Bradley Onishi, a scholar and former evangelical, discusses the deep connection between religious identity and political ideology, especially within the white Christian nationalist movement.
• 😀 The 1960s civil rights movements and progressive social changes are seen by white Christian nationalists as moments when America lost its original Christian identity.
• 😀 Trump's rhetoric, such as suggesting that Christians 'won't have to vote anymore' if he is elected, reflects a desire for a permanent political shift favoring Christian nationalism.
• 😀 The January 6th Capitol riot displayed a mix of religious imagery and extremist political actions, as many participants believed they were carrying out divine work to restore America to its Christian roots.
• 😀 Onishi's personal journey reflects the tension between evangelical faith and political conservatism, highlighting how religious identity can be tightly interwoven with political beliefs.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the final weeks of campaigning for KLA Harris and Donald Trump?

Both KLA Harris and Donald Trump have been focusing on swing states in the final weeks of campaigning, targeting specific groups of voters such as women, Latinos, black Americans, and young men to gain their votes.

What group has Donald Trump particularly focused on during his campaign?

Donald Trump has particularly focused on Christian voters, frequently addressing faith-based groups and appealing to them with promises of political change.

How does Trump relate his survival of an assassination attempt to God?

Trump suggested that God played a role in saving him from an attempted assassination, indicating that God wants him to bring the country back from the crisis it is facing.

Who are white Christian nationalists, according to Bradley Onishi?

White Christian nationalists are individuals who believe that the United States should be a Christian nation and that Christianity should hold a privileged position in political and cultural life. This group includes white evangelicals, Catholics, Pentecostals, and other Christian groups.

What percentage of Americans believe the U.S. federal government should declare the nation a Christian nation?

According to data from the Public Religion Research Initiative (PRRI), about 25% to 30% of Americans believe that the U.S. federal government should declare the nation a Christian nation.

How does Bradley Onishi describe the relationship between Christian nationalism and American identity?

Onishi suggests that Christian nationalism is more about cultural identity and the narrative of America's founding as a Christian nation than strictly about religious beliefs or practices.

What period in American history do many Christian nationalists look back to as a golden era?

Many Christian nationalists look back to the 1950s as a time when white Christians held significant political and cultural power, before the civil rights movements and changes in social and cultural norms during the 1960s.

Do you believe Donald Trump is a white Christian nationalist, or is he simply pandering to their beliefs?

Bradley Onishi argues that it's difficult to disentangle the two, as over time Trump has been heavily supported by white Christian nationalists and has tailored his rhetoric to resonate with this group, even if he is not personally a religious figure.

How was religion intertwined with the January 6th Capitol riot, according to Onishi?

Onishi explains that the January 6th Capitol riot was deeply intertwined with religious imagery and beliefs, with many participants viewing their actions as part of a divine mission to take back the country and reinstall what they saw as God's rightful order.

How does Bradley Onishi explain the contradiction of Christians supporting Trump despite his personal flaws?

Onishi notes that many Christians view Trump as a 'Cyrus figure' from the Bible—someone who, though imperfect, is chosen by God to fulfill a divine purpose, such as restoring America to its perceived former greatness.