Robert P. Jones Critiques Evangelical Support for Donald Trump in New Book

In his new book, Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy, author Robert P. Jones argues that evangelical support for Donald Trump represents a dangerous alignment with authoritarianism. Jones, who holds an MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and formerly identified as an evangelical, contends that certain theological tenets—such as an emphasis on biblical authority and exclusive salvation—have fostered an affinity for nationalist political movements. He suggests that this trend mirrors historical instances where white Protestant churches supported slavery and segregation.

Jones calls for a formal break in fellowship with Christians who support the former president, characterizing such political alignment as a form of apostasy. He argues that these believers have lent moral legitimacy to an ethno-religious movement that threatens American democratic institutions. Drawing on data from the Public Religion Research Institute, Jones highlights a significant divide in public opinion, noting that white evangelicals are 30 percentage points more likely than other Americans to support the use of hazardous barriers at the U.S.-Mexico border. The book has drawn attention for its provocative stance on the intersection of evangelical theology and contemporary political conservatism.