By Maddie Watson (she/her)

Donald Trump’s near-miss assassination attempt has appeared to further confirm his status as a god-like being by the Evangelical Nationalists of America. Whilst he has been seen as a religious icon for many since the 2016 Presidential Election, this third campaign for office has pandered to the Christian right more than ever before, using their beliefs as the core of the Republican party’s policies.

So how exactly does he align himself so heavily with Christianity? From selling signed bibles stating ‘make America pray again’ to labelling himself as ‘the chosen one’ in his speeches, Trump’s behaviour encourages his devoted fans to worship him in an all-consuming way, to see him as a hero that the government is trying to take down.

Trump’s reaction to his attempted assassination showed the strength that Biden has been famously lacking, but, most of all, it struck me as opportunistic. I saw him transform himself into a living martyr,  playing the brave victim and evoking sympathy worldwide even from his most fierce opponents. Whilst I believe political violence ought to be condemned and that recent events show a horrific shift in the political atmosphere in the US, the sparking rhetoric amongst Republicans that any criticism of Donald Trump is inciting violence against him is a dangerous one. It doesn’t allow for healthy political discourse, or for Trump to be held responsible for his actions.

The move towards a more evangelic campaign is particularly ironic considering Trump’s clear lack of any deep religious beliefs. Whilst Trump is a Presbyterian Christian, he is reported to rarely attend church, unlike Biden who claims to attend every Sunday. He has also been accused of committing adultery and sexual assault, as well as having gotten a divorce and being famously pro-choice before the beginning of his political career. The use of religion in his campaign could be seen as a façade to connect with devout Christian voters that are disillusioned with the modern, ‘woke’, America.

Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016, however, had less religious imagery and his persona was rather ‘ungodly’. The discourse regarding Trump when he first came into power was that he was nonconforming, rebellious, and predatory; his popularity came from the fact that he broke the rules and said outlandish things. He was different to the previous stiff upper-lipped politicians who had little in common with the average American. Now this is almost a distant memory, with the major difference being that extreme right-wing views are now being delivered in a slightly calmer manner, painting Trump as the innocent victim of the woke agenda and deep-state conspiracy.

This new age of the Republican Party appears instead to be focusing on culture wars and further dividing the country. The party is all-encompassing of Trump’s ideas – he doesn’t just represent the party, he is the party, because there is no space for anyone who disagrees with him. Project 2025, a political initiative created by The Heritage Foundation, is a rare projection of what Trump may actually do in office. It outlines plans to replace civil servants with Trump loyalists to create an unrivalled powerhouse, alongside limited access to abortion. Whilst Trump has attempted to distance himself from the project, many behind it are his advisors and are expected to serve in his second administration. It is not enough for him to merely be president again; the goal is to completely dismantle and reconstruct the US government in his image.

Donald Trump’s power relies solely on people’s perceptions of him rather than traditional political knowledge or experience. He is only as powerful as people believe, which is unfortunate when many across America believe him to be omnipotent. Devotion to him has lessened the seriousness of his criminal convictions, because, after all, what is the word of the law against a man chosen by God?

The US has always had a deep tie between church and state, but, whilst Trump gets closer to the White House, the lines between the two powers are blurring. He has created a political atmosphere in which even if he loses the election in November, it seems likely that both he and his supporters will once again not accept the result.

Maddie Watson

She/Her