A
rally for former President Donald J. Trump in July in Erie, Pa. At many of his recent rallies, Mr. Trump delivers a roughly 15-minute finale that evokes an evangelical altar call. Credit...Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times
The Church of Trump:
How He’s Infusing Christianity Into His Movement
Ending many of his rallies with a churchlike ritual and casting his
prosecutions as persecution, the former president is demanding — and receiving — new levels of devotion from Republicans.
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Michael C. Bender
By Michael C. Bender
Reporting from Conway, S.C., and Washington
April 1, 2024
Long known for his improvised and
volatile stage performances, former President Donald J. Trump now tends to finish his rallies on a solemn note.
Soft, reflective music fills the venue as a hush falls over the crowd. Mr. Trump’s tone turns reverent and somber, prompting some supporters to bow their heads or close their eyes. Others raise open palms in the air or murmur as if in prayer.
In this moment, Mr. Trump’s audience is his congregation, and the former president their pastor as he delivers a
roughly 15-minute finale that evokes an evangelical altar call, the emotional tradition that concludes some Christian services in which attendees come forward to commit to their savior.