America’s white evangelicals are dealing with Donald Trump’s devilry the same way German Protestants accepted Nazism in the first four years of Hitler’s rule, says author Robert P. Jones:
Jones cites Martin Niemöller, a Lutheran pastor imprisoned for opposing Hitler, remembered for the poem First They Came. But for the first four years of Hitler’s reign, he notes, Niemöller did not fully oppose the Nazis. He later regretted that he and the Protestant German church did not speak out sooner.
Backslide returns to the analogy in its epilogue. He writes: “Just as God asked Niemoller where he was between 1933 and 1937, God will ask us where we were between 2025 and 2028. Just as Germans who backed Hitler and the Nazi Party after 1933 were fully aware of what they were joining, so Christians who have backed Trump and the MAGA movement a second time know and bear responsibility for what they are now endorsing” [David Smith, “When Is the Right Time to Compare US Politics to the Nazi Era? This Expert on Christian Nationalism Says: Now,” The Guardian, 2026.10.03].
Some Democrats are trying to explain to white evangelicals that Democratic policies align better with Christian principles:
Democrats have made a more aggressive play to recapture White Christian voters in recent months, seizing on rising prices and a social justice message to begin to make the argument that the GOP isn’t the only party aligned with Christian values.
Democrats are running candidates — such as Talarico in Texas, Methodist megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton in Kansas and ministers Sarah Trone Garriott and Lindsay James in Iowa congressional districts — they hope can start to close the so-called God gap in states where the Christian vote can make a big difference on Election Day.
Democrats believe they can make a play for Christian voters by broadening the discussion beyond debates over issues like abortion or LGBTQ rights, which they have been on the losing side of with White evangelical voters. Instead, Democrats’ message is more focused on “loving thy neighbor” and reflecting that as a central tenet of Christianity that supports their positions on reigning in immigration enforcement and pushing back on cuts to healthcare [Lauren Fox and Morgan Rimmer, “Republicans Worry That Evangelicals Sitting the Midterms Out Could Cost Them in Key Races,” CNN, 2026.10.13].
But the Trump/Jesus crowd isn’t voting theologically, says Jones; they have very deliberately abandoned principle in a last-ditch scramble to preserve white Christian rule:
“Trump loves to talk about the art of the deal and, in many ways, there’s been a massive quid pro quo deal struck between a declining white evangelical population and Trump,” Jones observes. “His big appeal to them was less about policy and more anti-immigrant: I’m going to restore an America that looks like you, and I’m going to restore power to the Christian churches.
“He was literally saying on the campaign trail: this is a quid pro quo deal. Give me your votes and you won’t even have to vote again. I’ll fix it so you don’t have to vote again.’”
This transactional alliance marks a complete departure from the religious right of the late 20th century, which wrapped its political ambitions in the language of morality.
“You don’t hear those words any more,” says Jones, contrasting today’s movement with Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority or the “Values Voters” summits of the George W Bush era. “What we have now is an overtly anti-democratic Christian nationalism flying under the banner of: ‘We believe this country belongs to us, and we’re going to use the power we can to claim it.’”
This Faustian bargain relies purely on power rather than shared theology – a dynamic starkly highlighted by the contrast between Trump and his running mate, JD Vance. While Vance recently discussed the End Times with 22-year-old evangelical podcaster Bryce Crawford, awkwardly reflecting on his evangelical upbringing and subsequent conversion to Catholicism, Trump operates largely without theological pretence.
Jones continues: “He makes straight appeals to self-interest: if you’re for me, I’ll be for you. Evangelicals are willing to forgive a whole host of sins for the idea that he is going to bring them back into power as their numbers are dwindling” [Smith, 2026.10.03].
Reminding white evangelicals that Jesus told us to feed the poor and love our neighbors won’t pull most white evangelicals away from Trump’s fascism. Fascists want power, and they are happy to co-opt religion to get power and keep it. Most white evangelical Christians are willing to play along with Trump’s fascists, just as many Christians did in Nazi Germany.
Dominion theology supposes christians must control the seven “mountains” of government, education, media, arts and entertainment, religion, family, and business in order to establish a global christianic theocracy and prepare the world for Jesus’ return.
Disguised as a cop in a fake squad vehicle, Vance Boelter fatally shot former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and severely wounded State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette after attending the Christ for the Nations Institute while promoting the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR).
The End Times fulfill a prophesy and welcome a supernatural extraterrestrial to create a one-world government. No higher being could be anything but predatory. It’s dystopian fantasy run amok.
Everytime I hear some Democrat blather about Christians “welcoming the stranger,” I am reminded of a classmate of mine who was murdered in a home invasion during a summer break from college. Family was at home when some thugs showed up, herded them all into the kitchen and shot them all dead.
Maybe they should have offered them coffee and sandwiches? Been more hospitable?
The inability of Democrats to discern the difference between fugitives and refugees is consistent with their inability to discern males from females, tumors from fetuses, etc. Just a general lack of discerment all around.
5. “Pro-life” is simply code for white people breeding. Republicans drive the abolition of women’s rights because they’re wedded to the Great Replacement Hypothesis. But, African-Americans terminate pregnancies at about the same per capita rate as white people do but don’t take their jobs. Latinas, however, have fewer abortions per capita so the extreme white wing laments it’s hemorrhaging jobs to Latinos.
They are all going to burn in hell anyways. They are ridiculous storytellers too.
“Onward Christian Soldiers”
Doubt Jesus would have approved of that message.
Algebra, you expect everyone to be like you, yet you are not a good role model. How can you be a Christian if you spew such a deep dislike for others? Remember that Jesus came along to show us how to live and love, replacing all those Old Testament practices of stoning people to death with weapons or words.
Christianity is inclusive whether you like it or not. Read the New Testament again and again and again. Then practice tolerance by doing something to be a good Christian role model.
Republicans love the simplicity of a label – and never any probative thought with that.
Algebra’s GOP cares about the woman who carries a pregnancy, but not about the woman (orange man pr child) with the tumor or other health need they cannot afford because a billionaire needs their dollar more than they do. The fetus deserves protection, but only up to the moment they clear the birth canal. They want to protect women in sports, but not when it comes to equity in pay, or outside that arena of trophies where REAL protections are needed. The st I’ve for Christian nation that bears NO resemblance to Christ’s teachings.
I had a conservative stop by our home, campaigning. In 20 minutes, he did not manage to assert any policy idea to help the constituents he hopes to represent. Plenty of labels flew.
Anecdotal Algebra keeps anecdoting.
Algebra states that Democrats are unable “to discern the difference between fugitives and refugees,” Interestingly, as best I can tell Democrats currently have no power to make this distinction as Republicans, supported by Trump and his MAGA acolytes and appointees, control immigration enforcement. And, my limited research of publicly available information indicates that Republicans and their MAGA enabled ICE armed federal agents, are the ones that currently are unable to make the distinction (or simply don’t care to make the distinction) that Algebra implicitly deems important. My research, not anecdotes, found:
70.6% of immigrants seized by ICE have no criminal convictions; of individuals seized by ICE 4% to 6% have convictions for violent offense; According to CATO institute studies, official immigration statistics indicate that roughly 5% to 7% of deportees/detainees specifically fit the category of an “immigration fugitive.”
Meanwhile, under the so-called PARRIS policy, ICE is authorized to arrest and detain legally admitted refugees who have lived in the U.S. for more than one year but have not yet adjusted their status to secure a green card. This includes armed ICE agents conducting door-to-door sweeps to arrest and detain lawfully present refugees.
Apparently, the ICE detention population has surged past 65,000 to 70,000 individuals—with data showing that roughly 70% of current detainees have no criminal convictions, a category heavily populated by asylum seekers and targeted refugees.
Thanks BCB. Probably safe to infer that many of those detained have the right to vote?
I looked it up and apologize for my stupid question but the ICE actions are intended to intimidate voters, right?
Larry, I would expect that virtually everything done under federal power by the current administration is aimed at suppressing voters through intimidation.
More to the point of Cory’s post, however, seems to be the conflict in the manner that self-identifying MAGA Christians believe undocumented immigrants should be treated, and what the moral teachings of the New Testament and Jesus direct.
For example, my research indicates that Joseph, Mary, and infant Jesus were undocumented immigrants since they reportedly fled across an international border without official authorization to live as refugees in Egypt. (Matthew 2:13–15). Current Republican policy would be to arrest them, detain them and deport them back to where they came from. If the resisted ICE could, beat, taze or even shoot them or run them down with an automobile..
Meanwhile, the Bible indicates that Jesus, himself, teaches that how people treat the vulnerable—explicitly including the xenos (Greek for stranger, foreigner, or alien)—is equivalent to how they treat Jesus himself. (Matthew 25:35–40),
Likewise, in the Parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus defines a “neighbor” not by nationality, ethnicity, or legal standing, calling on his followers to show active mercy to anyone in need. (Luke 10:29–37). And the New Testament letter to the Hebrews explicitly commands believers: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2).
In an almost Monty Python like contrast, some Christian apologists for the current USA policy of hatred and cruelty toward immigrants rely on passages such as Romans 13:1–7 and 1 Peter 2:13–17 (not the words of Jesus) that instruct believers to obey and respect the laws of the state and governing authorities. The Monty Python aspect of this argument is that Jesus was murdered by crucifixion under existing Roman law, which appears to be the morally correct action under the respect the laws argument. And if the Romans were doing what the Bible commanded – obeying Roman law – then it seems a bit odd that Jesus is reported to have said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 (NIV).
Excellent comments.
The most wonderful gift we get from the Talarico campaign in Texas, is a clear read on how immoral, Trump-cultish, self righteous and delusional the Right Evangelicals are. The way they get so outraged when Talarico shows them and their fat white conservative Jesus as total frauds, while revealing the real spirit of Christ in his words and actions.
Hear Hear Andronymous
Another contrast is the WHITE lady who killed 2 and Injured 10 at the Wichita soccer field. Released! White privileges. Non white, she would be clinked. Pending toxicology and mechanical exam of car. She is getting a pass.
They were saying thoughts and prayers…
White power means there are some people that will get crunched. Non-whites, students shot at school, people killed by a car at soccer games…
Orange King is the last hurrah of Bible thumping fascists.