The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Opinion Trump idolatry has undermined religious faith

Columnist|
December 28, 2021 at 1:41 p.m. EST
President Donald Trump holds a Bible during a visit outside St. John's Church across Lafayette Park from the White House on June 1, 2020. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

Much has been written about White evangelicals’ central role in the fraying of democracy. More attention, however, should be paid to the damage the political movement has inflicted on religion itself.

The demographic — which remains in the throes of White grievance and an apocalyptic vision that postulates America (indeed “Western civilization”) is under attack from socialists, foreigners and secularists — forms the core of the MAGA movement. Many have rejected the sanctity of elections, the principle of inclusion and even objective reality.