Reagan and Trump used religion to advance political visions, but their messages and missions couldn’t be more different.
By
Professor and Knight Center Chair in Media & Religion
Introduction
In August 1982, Ronald Reagan鈥檚 father-in-law was dying. Nancy Reagan鈥檚 beloved dad, Loyal Davis, was an atheist 鈥 a troubling fact to the 40th president. So Reagan penned a private, in which he recounted how the prayers of colleagues and friends had cured him of a painful stomach ulcer.
Giving hope for what lay beyond, Reagan entreated the older man, 鈥淲e鈥檝e been promised this is only a part of life and that a greater life, a greater glory awaits us 鈥 and all that is required is that you believe and tell God you put yourself in his hands.鈥
For decades, , noting he rarely went to church. But the missive to his father-in-law reveals a deep and heartfelt faith. That faith also factored heavily into his political stands and policies, as I discuss in my book 鈥.鈥
In recent years, Donald Trump, another former president and the current Republican presidential candidate, has , posing for photo ops with right-wing preachers and praising his 鈥渇avorite book鈥 鈥 the Bible.
The latest such demonstration was a video in which Trump promoted sales . 鈥淟et鈥檚 make America pray again,鈥 he urged viewers. 鈥淎s we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless the USA Bible.鈥
While Reagan and Trump 鈥 two of the most media-savvy Republican presidents 鈥 used religion to advance their political visions, their messages and missions are starkly different.
Why Religion Plays a Part in Politics
In my book, I explain that underlying American politics is a religious vision that links citizens to civic values. The most prevalent vision is that God blessed America and tasked its citizens with spreading freedom and democracy. It鈥檚 an idea that has undergirded Americans鈥 patriotism and for decades.
Reagan telegraphed belief in a God-blessed America by describing the United States as 鈥.鈥 Reagan of a Biblical phrase from a 17th century Puritan sermon. In Matthew 5:14, Jesus warns that the world will judge whether or not his disciples, a symbolic city on a hill, stick to their ideals. By adding 鈥渟hining,鈥 Reagan sanctified American exceptionalism and the United States鈥 role as a global model of freedom.
Once elected, Reagan ways to apply his faith in freedom, which, like many evangelicals, he believed came from God. By cutting taxes, ending industry regulations and privatizing government functions, he hoped to give individuals more economic and political freedom.
Reagan鈥檚 love of freedom also fueled his hostility to the Soviet Union. He labeled its communist government 鈥,鈥 because it denied its citizens freedom. Casting a geopolitical stance as a cosmic battle between good and evil, Reagan made defeating communism a religious calling.
I argue that Reagan鈥檚 evangelical vision was mainstreamed through the media, which reported his interviews and public statements. This vision was not always apparent, but Americans liked his policies even if they missed their religious dimension. In other words, when Reagan proposed allowing the free market to determine the economy, limiting federal power and standing up for democracy worldwide, one didn鈥檛 need to be an evangelical to agree.
A New Religious Vision
Trump saw an opening for a new kind of religiously tinged politics when he ran for president in 2016. But unlike Reagan鈥檚 vision of spreading freedom and democracy here and abroad, Trump鈥檚 vision sticks closer to home.
I would argue that Trump鈥檚 religious vision is rooted in white Christian nationalism, the belief that the white Christians who founded America . According to white Christian nationalists, the founders also wanted to limit the influence of non-Christian immigrants and enslaved Africans.
Likewise, Trump鈥檚 rhetoric, mainstreamed by the media, portrays 鈥渞eal鈥 Americans as white Christians. Many of these are men and women fearful that secularists and religious, racial and ethnic minorities , if not eliminate, them.
By most measures, , that claim. But he has convinced conservative Americans, especially white evangelicals, that he is 鈥淕od鈥檚 instrument on .鈥
When confronted with his financial misconduct, sexual crimes and outrageous lies, backers say that through flawed men. And evidence of that work 鈥 the U.S. Supreme Court overturning abortion rights, building the border wall and moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem 鈥 has won him their support.
Trump鈥檚 mainstreaming of white Christian nationalism is evident in his latest scheme. The God Bless the USA Bible sports an American flag on its cover. Included with scripture is the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Pledge of Allegiance and the handwritten lyrics to singer Lee Greenwood鈥檚 鈥淕od Bless the U.S.A.鈥 A portion of the sales .
Christianity and Nationalism Hand-in-Hand
Trump rejects America鈥檚 role as the 鈥渟hining city on a hill鈥 and its mission to spread freedom and democracy. His goal is to restore what he calls the 鈥渇ounding fathers鈥 vision.鈥 It鈥檚 a vision shared by Americans who think the U.S. was , .
Religion can be a force for good or ill. Reagan believed that his religious vision would promote individual freedom and spread democracy worldwide. Americans may agree or disagree on whether he was successful and at what cost.
But Trump鈥檚 religious vision 鈥 one that hawks Bibles, and 鈥 isn鈥檛 one that Reagan would recognize.
Originally by , 04.17.2024, under the terms of a license.