Evangelicals Reassess Support as Trump’s Influence Wanes
WHO:
CNN - President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Senator Raphael Warnock, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Melissa Deckman (CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute), Paula Reid (Trump's spiritual adviser).
Alternet - Evangelicals, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, journalist McKay Coppins.
WHAT:
CNN - A report from the Religious Liberty Commission states that the concept of separation of church and state is a legal error and emphasizes that Americans should view religion as an “essential support.”
Alternet - Trump's approval rating among evangelicals has fallen to 52%, down from 61% in August 2025.
Alternet - The portion of voters who are White evangelicals decreased from 26% in 2016 to 23% in 2024.
CNN - Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) prefer the U.S. to be a nation made up of people belonging to a wide variety of religions, a decline from 73% in 2022.
CNN - A report from the Religious Liberty Commission empaneled by Trump suggests tearing down the wall between church and state.
CNN - In the 2016 election, 23% of voters described themselves as Catholic and 52% as Protestant or another Christian denomination; in 2024, these numbers changed to 21% Catholic and 43% Protestant or another Christian denomination.
Alternet - Trump's approval rating among evangelicals has fallen to 52%, down from 82% in March 2025.
Alternet - Evangelicals voted over 80% for Trump in all three presidential races.
WHERE:
CNN - The event took place in the Oval Office.
CNN - Senator Warnock is the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Georgia.
WHEN:
CNN - The report from the Religious Liberty Commission was released on a Friday.
Alternet - Trump's approval rating was 82% in March 2025, 69% before the war with Iran, and 61% in August 2025.
WHY:
Alternet - Evangelicals are beginning to question their support for Trump due to frustrations over issues such as the war with Iran and immigration policies that conflict with their humanitarian efforts.
CNN - The decline in support among evangelicals is attributed to a growing number questioning Trump's "cult of personality" and whether they need to support everything he does.
CNN - Vance argues for prioritizing families and improving conditions for new mothers and young children, while Warnock questions the alignment of Christian faith with Trump's policies.
HOW:
CNN - The report from the Religious Liberty Commission suggests providing more public money to religious organizations and giving churches a more direct role in politics.
CNN - The intermixing of religion and politics is at an unprecedented level in recent American history, with Trump acting on behalf of the religious right through policies and Supreme Court nominations.
Alternet - Evangelicals have accommodated Trump's behavior by shifting their focus from family values and moral leadership to populism and political power.
(UPDATED June 27, 2026 13:21 UTC)
A report from the Religious Liberty Commission claims that the separation of church and state is a legal error, advocating for a view of religion as an "essential support" in American life. Meanwhile, Trump's approval rating among evangelicals has dropped to 52%, down from 61% in August 2025, as many begin to question their support due to frustrations over issues like the war with Iran and immigration policies. Additionally, nearly two-thirds of Americans, or 64%, now prefer a nation characterized by a variety of religions, a notable decrease from 73% in 2022, while the report suggests increasing public funding for religious organizations and a more direct political role for churches.
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(UPDATED June 27, 2026 11:23 UTC)
In a significant development from the Oval Office, a report from the Religious Liberty Commission, empaneled by Trump, suggests dismantling the wall between church and state, a move that has sparked considerable debate among religious leaders. Trump's approval rating among evangelicals has dropped to 52%, down from 82% in March 2025, as many begin to question his "cult of personality" and the alignment of his policies with Christian values. Meanwhile, Senator Raphael Warnock, who is also the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Georgia, is raising concerns about the compatibility of faith with Trump's approach, as the intertwining of religion and politics reaches unprecedented levels in American history.