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Trump and faith: business or culture war in America?
The article examines Donald Trump's understanding of faith, his connection to Norman Vincent Peale and the implications for the political landscape in 2025.
Trump and faith: business or culture war in America?
Donald Trump has made it back into the White House - since January 2025. A leap into the political spotlight that not only surprised many, but also raises questions about his relationship to faith. Trump describes himself as a “non-denominational Christian”, but is strongly influenced by the teachings of New York star pastor Norman Vincent Peale, as [meine-kirchenzeitung.de](https://www.meine-kirchenzeitung.de/sonneberg/c-eine-welt/donald-trump-ein- Glaube-zwischen-business-modell-und-kulturkampf_a57951) reports.
Growth and faith are closely linked in Trump's worldview. His religious socialization in a Presbyterian family and Peale's positive messages, which brought together faith and success, left a deep mark on Trump. Peale, who encouraged people during the Great Depression, reinforced the idea that a secure and fulfilling life goes hand in hand with religious faith. His bestselling book “The Power of Positive Thinking” emphasizes this mindset and has inspired Trump to focus his political campaigns heavily on it, as yalebooks.yale.edu explains.
Lifestyle and political agenda
If you take a closer look at Trump, it becomes clear that he doesn't just mobilize with words. Despite the many scandals in his political career, he has cultivated a loyal base of devout voters appealed to by his rhetoric on abortion and his Supreme Court decisions. However, critics accuse him of using religion as a platform for his political ambitions rather than actually living it. In particular, his aggressive immigration and Muslim policies have met with strong criticism from many church leaders.
His faith also took interesting turns in 2020, when he posed in front of a church with a Bible in his hand while reporting on protests. This production was not only perceived as shameful, but also as an instrumentalization of religion, as christopherlane.org notes. Since then, these tactics have been part of his strategy to surround himself with the image of “Christianity under siege” and thus to mobilize the masses in an authoritarian manner.
Commercialization of faith
Trump even goes so far as to commercialize religious content. An example of this trend is the $60 “God Bless the USA” Bible that he launched for Easter 2024. His ability to do business through faith is also reflected in his statement about the “lost faith of America,” which was featured in one of his promotional videos.
Given these many facets of his faith and politics, it is hardly surprising that Trump is deeply influenced by Peale's beliefs. Peale's linking of religious faith to economic success and personal satisfaction resulted in over 81 percent of white evangelicals supporting Trump during the 2016 election campaign. This close connection between faith, identity and economic advancement is not only propagated by Trump, but also actively exploited.
The dynamic between Trump's faith and his political agenda will continue to generate debate - and especially among voters drawn to his messages. At a time when religious and political positions are more intertwined than ever, it remains to be seen how this belief will play out in everyday political life.