What do Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump have in common? Surprisingly, it’s their use of religion as a powerful political tool.
Diane Winston, professor of journalism and communication at the University of Southern California, notes that Reagan was both a man of deep faith and a savvy politician who knew how to attract Christian votes. Winston explains that Reagan’s ties to Evangelical Christians—and the way the media covered them—enabled the religious right to gain a foothold in American politics, setting the stage for the rise of Trump and what she refers to as “MAGA’s Second Coming.”
Winston observes that our American identity is steeped in a shared understanding of our values. From an early age, many are taught that America is the greatest country in the world.
“The idea of America as a chosen nation, a city on a hill, a new Jerusalem, a God-blessed country is our most fundamental religious imaginary,” she says. “It cuts across race, region, religions, gender.”
In this program, Winston delves into how social unrest and a lack of critical scrutiny of Reagan’s less popular evangelical beliefs—like limited government and individual responsibility—empowered the conservative Christian movement, a force still felt today.
Like Reagan, Trump has managed to harness Christian support, despite little evidence of being a man of faith.