Why are Evangelical Voters Supporting Donald Trump?

Veronica Neffinger | Editor, ChristianHeadlines.com | Friday, January 22, 2016
Why are Evangelical Voters Supporting Donald Trump?

Why are Evangelical Voters Supporting Donald Trump?

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has garnered support among conservative evangelical voters, which has left some to question why the thrice-married business mogul appeals to a group that is known for voting on values.

In a Time magazine article, Alex Altman and Elizabeth Dias address Trump’s popularity with the evangelical crowd and speculate on why he has garnered the support of this constituency.

A national poll reveals that Trump holds 42 percent support among evangelicals. His current closest rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who is known for his conservative values and Biblical morals, holds only 25 percent.

Trump also recently received a warm welcome from Jerry Falwell, Jr., the president of the largest Christian college, Liberty University, where, even though he mispronounced a book of the Bible, he still appeared to be well-received.

Altman and Dias note the other seeming discrepancies in evangelicals’ affinity with Trump: He has been married three times, failed to name his favorite Bible verse though he alleges the Bible is his favorite book, and has referred to communion as “the little wine” and “the little cracker.” 

Why, then, do so many evangelicals support Trump? ask Altman and Dias.

“Donald Trump basically gave voice to the idea that Washington is broken and needs to be fixed,” says Bob Vander Plaats, shedding some light on the question. “People right away resonate with that.”

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, stated that Trump’s disregard for political correctness is also alluring for many evangelicals. 

“Now they see Donald Trump, who is taking on that same elitist politically correct mindset and not backing down,” Perkins says. “They find common cause in this guy, even though he comes from a completely different world.”

Publication date: January 22, 2016