Perry, Samuel. Trump’s Insurrection Follows Long History of Christian Nationalist Violence. Milwaukee Independent. Photo via Milwaukee Independent
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In this dark time of uncertainty, in a nation clouded by polarization, the question presents itself: how did America get here? When did a country that once prided itself on “us” become consumed by “what’s in it for me?” Have Americans grown more selfish, more hateful, more greedy? What forces have driven this cultural shift?
The answer lies not in the people but in the leadership. The current administration has perfected the art of turning citizens against one another, ensuring fingers point across the aisle rather than toward those in power. Chaos looms as alarming headlines flood the news. Cuts to funding, slashes to human rights, and new executive orders signed with the stroke of a pen seemingly occur in the blink of an eye—all justified under the banners of patriotism and Christianity.
Sinclair Lewis’s 1935 novel, It Can’t Happen Here, warns that “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” Nearly a century later, his warning resonates as Christian nationalism grows into the ideological engine of authoritarianism.
To understand Christian nationalism, one must first understand that it is not authentically Christian. It is the hijacking of faith for political gain. At its core, the ideology fuses religious supremacy with national identity, demanding that the government enforces a narrow vision of belief.
Yet America was never founded as a Christian nation. In fact, the Religious Clauses of the First Amendment state that the government cannot make any law “respecting an establishment of religion.” The founding fathers knew that the moment when politics and religion become blurred, when divinity becomes synonymous with a party, a politician, or a policy, democracy begins to wither and authoritarianism takes root.
Today, Christianity has been weaponized as a tool of division, hatred, and violence, a development entirely antithetical to the authentic nature of the religion. On January 6th, 2020, Christian nationalists violently stormed the U.S. Capitol while carrying crosses and banners proclaiming “Jesus Saves.” Political leaders have demanded that Christianity be taught in schools while simultaneously cutting free lunch programs for children. Proponents of the ideology openly reject immigration, welfare, civil rights, and even basic empathy, countering the Bible’s core teachings. At its core lies a distorted logic of selective empathy: valuing political allies while condemning others as enemies of God.
The aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, an American right-wing political activist, illustrates just one example of how this administration exploits faith for power. Long known for his extreme pro-gun rhetoric and hateful positions on race, gender, and immigration, Kirk was quickly recast as a martyr for the faith.
His memorial featured prominent Christian musicians, political leaders, and even the president. The right has invoked Kirk’s death as a catalyst for their political empowerment. For instance, right-wing commentator Benny Johnson invoked religious imagery alluding to the current administration, stating, “May we pray that our rulers here, rightfully instituted and given power by our God, wield the sword for the terror of evil men in our nation, in Charlie’s memory.” Jack Posobiec, an American right-wing political activist, went further, suggesting Kirk’s “sacrifice” would one day be remembered as the turning point that “saved Western civilization.”
Even more chilling was deputy chief of staff and U.S. homeland security advisor Stephen Miller, who declared, “They cannot imagine what they have awakened,” before proclaiming, “We are the storm.” His rhetoric mirrors a 1932 address by Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s chief propagandist, titled The Storm Is Coming. In that speech, Goebbels warned of an approaching reckoning, framing the Nazi movement as a divinely ordained struggle of good versus evil to justify their claim to superiority. Miller’s language reveals how propaganda recycles itself across history, turning politics into holy war and casting neighbors as enemies.
Kirk’s death also became a pretext for censorship and control. Numerous Americans were fired from their jobs for expressing their opinions, such as Jimmy Kimmel, who was briefly pulled off the air for his comments regarding the shooter. What should have been a moment of grief became a tool for silencing dissent and accelerating Project 2025.
Project 2025 is not merely a policy initiative, but a blueprint for authoritarian rule. Drafted by the conservative Heritage Foundation and backed by Trump allies, it calls for dismantling federal agencies, gutting reproductive rights, eroding LGBTQ protections, and consolidating presidential power all in the name of conservative Chrsitian values. Already halfway complete, it is the tangible roadmap for Christian nationalism’s powerful takeover for not just the next few years, but the foreseeable future.
What is happening in America is not unprecedented. Authoritarian leaders have long leveraged religion to strengthen and secure their power. Adolf Hitler, dictator of Nazi Germany, framed his rise as a divine mission, using religious language to gain legitimacy. Today, 72% of white evangelicals support Donald Trump. This unwavering devotion from a religious group is no surprise; it is the result of deliberate manipulation by political and religious leaders who present him as divinely ordained. Many believe he is divinely chosen despite his 34 felony convictions and long list of sexual misconduct allegations.
Trump has repeatedly revealed his lack of genuine faith. He attacked a bishop who prayed for his mercy toward LGBTQ people, immigrants, and the marginalized. Despite his Christian image, Trump did not even place his hand on the Bible during his inauguration, and failed to provide a favorite Bible verse when asked. His efforts of faith ring hollow, giving just enough to preserve his Christian following’s support while serving his own agenda.
In his 2024 campaign, Trump framed his efforts as a “righteous crusade” against cultural and political opponents, using spiritual battle imagery to rally supporters. He even marketed a “God Bless the USA” Bible in 2024, which included the Constitution and founding documents, blurring the line between scripture and nationalism for profit. In early 2025, he signed an executive order promising to “end the anti-Christian weaponization of government” and created a task force to combat so-called anti-Christian bias.
Trump’s most consequential policies reveal the same pattern. The fall of Roe v. Wade was justified on religious grounds, despite America not being a theocracy. Over and over, Trump has leveraged faith not out of devotion but as a tool of control, and this must no longer be accepted by the American people.
Regardless of political affiliation, one truth is undeniable: democracy is being dismantled by leaders who twist the Bible to justify Project 2025, a radical agenda that, once complete, will leave no winners except for the wealthiest and most powerful.
The path forward must be forged through bipartisanship, anchored in the Constitution’s core values. The American people must defend voting rights and religious freedom, restore the checks and balances that protect democracy, and invest in education and social programs that build solidarity and collective power.
History is repeating itself. The only question now is whether America will rise together, across party lines, to reclaim democracy as it once was or stand by as it slips away.
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This article was edited by James Dougherty and Esme Carson.
Lauren Gracia 
Cooper Toland 
Anita Boniface