Religion in the USA: Trump, God and the nation

"Make America great again" - and preferably with divine assistance. Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2025 was already steeped in religious symbols and an almost messianic promise of salvation that seemed to be fulfilled in his person. On the anniversary of his re-election, US experts have analysed the religious-political situation in the country for the Catholic News Agency (KNA).

Theologian Massimo Faggioli, professor at Trinity College in Dublin, observes a clear increase in Christian nationalism. The aim of the US government is to restore Christianity to a central role in the self-image of the United States.

Christian Commission on Religious Freedom

In order to promote this goal, Trump has set up a presidential commission on religious freedom, explains Hille Haker, an ethicist who teaches in the USA: "This commission is primarily made up of Christian members. Its dedicated task is to scrutinise the separation of church and state at the political and legal level - and to revoke it if possible."

According to Haker, religious freedom is primarily understood by the government as the promotion of Christianity. "What these values are can be seen from the opposition to liberal laws: Opposition to same-sex marriage, contraceptives and abortions." This Christianisation programme also included the strengthening of traditional family images and the rejection of more rights for women and sexual minorities. Haker considers the strong Christian colouring of US policy to be incompatible with the US constitution: "The constitution does not protect one religion, but all religions".

Division in church and society

Despite the favouring of Christianity, the division within the Catholic Church has intensified over the past year. Austrian theologian and USA expert Andreas Weiß sees this as a reflection of society as a whole. The social, regional and ideological fault lines in the USA also run right through the Church.

While many US bishops are expressing their displeasure at Trump's restrictive migration policy, others are taking the government's line on sexual ethics issues such as gender and abortion. However, a move by the US government on in vitro fertilisation in October caused displeasure among conservative US bishops, who otherwise like to seek proximity to Trump. It is therefore becoming increasingly difficult for the bishops to find a common line, says Weiß. Theologian Haker comments with a view to the division of the church leadership: "The American bishops' conference is a total failure in opposition."

Polarisation between faith communities and within congregations

Weiß also emphasises that Trump is not only dividing the Catholic Church, but also other Christian communities such as Methodists, Lutherans and Presbyterians. Through his policies, the president is setting different currents within these churches against each other and at the same time promoting the formation of cross-denominational conservative and liberal alliances.

This polarisation is also evident at parish level: "Just like US society as a whole, parishes are also divided. Some of the members favour the Republicans, others the Democrats," says Eichstätt theologian Benjamin Dahlke. Preaching in this situation is a challenge, says Dahlke, who is a priest himself. Prayers and sermons spoken at mass have to be carefully considered: "After all, they can antagonise one camp or the other."

Fear of attending mass

For many believers, the president's policy has direct consequences for their religious life. "Many Latinos living in the country illegally are afraid of being checked by the immigration authorities while attending church and consequently being deported," reports Dahlke. For this reason, the diocese of San Bernardino in California has even suspended the Sunday obligation.

Tensions are also evident in the relationship with the universal church. With Pope Leo XIV, the first pope to come from the USA, the tone between Washington and Rome may have changed, but the differences remain. "Pope Francis had a real animosity towards the US president. Leo XIV is much more reserved and controlled in his demeanour," observes Dahlke. Nevertheless, the distance remains palpable.

In the long term, the theologian warns, the progressive merging of religion and politics could lead to a turning away from religion in the USA: "Current politics could trigger a countermovement. As in Poland and Ireland, there could be a surge in secularisation at some point."

One year after Trump's re-election, it is clear that US President Trump has interwoven religion and politics more closely than ever before - further deepening the rifts in "God's Own Country".