"Trump has no real mandate for what he is planning": The push for Christian nationalism may backfire

"Trump has no real mandate for what he is planning": The push for Christian nationalism may backfire
Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush reminds us why Trump "reached record levels of unpopularity when he last served"

By Chauncey DeVega
Senior Writer
Published December 17, 2024 8:59AM (EST)


(Salon) Donald Trump has promised to be a dictator on “day one” of his administration. Based on his already-announced plans and those in process, Trump, like other autocrats and authoritarians, means what he says. His words and statements should be understood both literally and figuratively. Trump’s (and the Republican Party’s and the “conservative” movement’s) models of leadership are Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orbán. Trump and his MAGA presidential administration and movement will attempt to remake American society in their mold — and do so very quickly.

Trump’s White Christian voters are the base of his support. He would not have been elected without them. Professor Ryan Burge, an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University, told The Salt Lake Tribune, “It’s hard to overcome the white God gap…in a place like Pennsylvania or Michigan and Wisconsin.” White Christians are now literally and metaphorically Trump’s biblical "arrows" and "armor." For example, on Jan. 6 White Christian extremists were in the vanguard of the attack on the Capitol and attempt to end America’s multiracial pluralistic democracy. Christian extremists also play a central role in the right-wing paramilitary and “militia” movement more broadly. Research by Robert P. Jones of PRRI shows that White Christians (specifically, members of the White Christian Right and Christian Nationalists) are more likely to be authoritarian and to endorse the use of political violence than are other Americans.

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The Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is the president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. An ordained Baptist minister, he works with affiliates, networks, and leaders in Washington, D.C., and across the country to forge powerful alliances among people of diverse faiths and beliefs to build a resilient, inclusive democracy and uphold religious freedoms. He hosts the weekly podcast and radio show “The State of Belief”, distributed by Religion News Service, holding weekly conversations with inspiring spiritual leaders, civic exemplars, artists and activists. Prior to coming to Interfaith Alliance, Rev. Raushenbush served as senior vice president of the Auburn Seminary and as the founding and executive editor of HuffPost Religion. He is regularly invited to offer commentary on issues of religion and civil rights in national outlets including CNN, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, NPR, New York Times, Washington Post, the Guardian and Religion News Service. He has published two books and contributed essays to several volumes on faith in public life.

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What, if anything, gives you hope in this time of darkness and dread?

As long as there are good people who continue to work together towards a vision of democracy that uplifts and protects the dignity and equality of every person, then I will have hope. Trump has no real mandate for what he is planning — the actual plans that he has on these issues are unpopular and many people are about to remember exactly why he reached record levels of unpopularity when he last served as president. My biggest fear, on the other hand, is that we will allow ourselves to be intimidated into silence and obedience. As long as we can overcome this fear and continue to join together to speak out and take against the Christian nationalist agenda, I believe we can and will eventually prevail. ................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2024/12/17/trump-has-no-real-mandate-for-what-he-is-planning-the-push-for-christian-nationalism-may-backfire/