Translated by Irene Cecchi
Who are the Evangelicals? In the United States, there is a religious movement that not only awaits, but prays for the coming of the apocalypse. These groups, united under the Evangelical Church, are exerting growing influence over the power elite in the White House. Defining who exactly counts as an evangelical is complex, but generally, the movement—which falls within broader Protestant Christianity—believes in a highly literal interpretation of the Bible and emphasizes evangelism: spreading the word of Christ to convert nonbelievers. Not coincidentally, American evangelicals are often associated with the term born again, referring to a new life granted through redemption of sins and acceptance of Jesus’ salvation. In addition to being staunchly anti-abortion and strong opponents of civil rights movements in all forms, evangelicals make up around 80 million Americans (nearly a quarter of the population), the vast majority of whom live in the so-called “Bible Belt,” the most religious and conservative states in the U.S. It’s no surprise that 85% of white evangelicals, who make up the core of the movement, vote Republican.
The Role of Religion in America. Historically, religious power has always walked hand-in-hand with political power. This is especially true in the U.S., which, despite undergoing secularization, remains one of the most religious Western nations. Understanding the role religion has played in American civil and political life is no easy task. It begins with the Puritans, the English settlers who formed America’s first colonies. They saw themselves as God’s chosen people sent to reform the Anglican Church, stripping away any remaining Catholic influence on institutions. For them, politics, ethics, and religion were deeply interconnected: government representatives were elected by the people but also chosen by God so that they were responsible for society moral behaviour. Later, the Founding Fathers realized that the newborn nation, funded on the separation of power and between republicans and democrats, needed gravitas. Religion started penetrating the new institutions with the aim of legitimizing them; to this day, U.S. presidents swear in on the Bible and end speeches with “God Bless America”. Over the years, religion in America has taken extreme and varied forms: from sanguinary cults to “megachurches”, congregations of thousands of followers that create a parallel community, where pastors are treated like rockstars and listened to strictly. The 1980s and ‘90s marked the rise of the evangelicals, who made political activism in the name of faith their mission.
Zionism and its relations with Trump. Leading evangelical groups in the US like CUFI (Christians United for Israel), with 10 million members, see themselves as crusaders fighting evil. They eagerly await the Apocalypse, which will be followed by Jesus’ return —he will execute nonbelievers and bring his faithful to Heaven– and in order to succeed, they believe that Israel’s existence —the Promised Land— is essential. Despite being staunch Zionists, they are often accused of antisemitism due to controversial remarks. Evangelical pastors preach about Israel’s legitimacy and appear frequently on conservative channels like Fox News urging preparation for the end of time. But their involvement doesn’t stop at sermons in those megachurches or dramatic TV appearances. A 2018 investigation by Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed that evangelical-linked associations donated more than $65 million over a decade to pro-Israel causes. These funds, according to the report, helped finance illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. After October 7, millions more were funneled into Israeli coffers; Associated Press reported CUFI alone had donated over $3 million. The Christian right wing has long backed the GOP, but in recent years has fully embraced Donald Trump, helping cultivate the personality cult around the Tycoon. Groups like CUFI have lobbied Washington for unwavering support for Israel—and Trump welcomed them with open arms. His ties with high-profile evangelical leaders like Robert Jeffress from Dallas (a regular on Fox News and the pastor that organized a prayer in the Oval Office during Trump’s first term) and John Hagee (CUFI founder, climate change denier and repeatedly accused of homophobia and intolerance) have been key in securing the support of a large block of fundamentalist voters and stand out as savior for a West whose values have been fading out. Trump’s creation of a White House Faith Office and his appointment of former televangelist Paula White Cain as advisor further not only secured him the support of those 80 million American believers but also gave evangelical leaders direct access to the highest levels of power. During his first presidency, Trump’s relationship with the Evangelical Church culminated in his decision to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, officially recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Holy City and effectively dismissing any Palestinian claims. In addition, choosing evangelical Mike Pence as vice president was no accident either: it was a strategic move to secure votes from that specific vote bank. Another major point of contact between Trump and evangelicals was the opening of a U.S. military base in Israel. As Colonel Larry Wilkerson (former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell during the Bush administration) notes in the documentary “Praying for Armageddon”, a base in such area could serve—if attacked voluntarily or not by Hezbollah or another group—as a casus belli for a massive U.S. intervention in Gaza, a scenario American military leaders have long tried to avoid.
What to expect? So far, the game between Trump and the Evangelical Church has proven mutually beneficial. Given the current post October 7th tensions in Gaza and Trump’s increasing closeness to Israel, it’s likely that during his second term Trump gets even closer to this religious group. Despite a general decline in American religious observance that has been going on in the last thirty years, the evangelical movement continues its lobbying to the White House and maintains strong support for the President. Just last month, CUFI’s founder and president John Hagee visited Netanyahu ahead of his White House meeting, publicly expressing full support for the Israeli leader.
Mondo Internazionale APS - Riproduzione Riservata ®2025