MAGA is blurring the line between church and state | The Economist

Key Concepts

• MAGA (Make America Great Again): The political movement centered around Donald Trump, currently evolving to incorporate more explicit religious and theological framing.
• Divine Right of Kings: A political and religious doctrine asserting that a monarch is subject to no earthly authority, deriving the right to rule directly from the will of God.
• Deus Vult: Latin for "God wills it"; a historical rallying cry of the First Crusade, now adopted by some militant factions within the MAGA movement.
• Godly Masculinity: A theological framework that emphasizes traditional, often militant, gender roles and strength as divine virtues.
• Post-Liberalism: A political perspective, often associated with figures like J.D. Vance, that rejects modern liberal democracy in favor of traditionalist, often religious, governance.

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The Evolution of Religious Rhetoric in the MAGA Movement

1. Donald Trump: From Transactional Politics to Divine Selection

In his first term, Donald Trump’s relationship with Christian conservatives was primarily transactional: he secured their votes in exchange for the appointment of conservative Supreme Court justices. However, the current trajectory of the movement suggests a shift toward a more personal, messianic narrative.

• Divine Justification: Trump has increasingly framed his political survival and actions as being directly sanctioned by God. Following the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, he explicitly stated, "I was saved by God to make America great again."
• Messianic Imagery: Trump has shared social media content depicting himself in Christ-like imagery, which critics argue mirrors the "Divine Right of Kings"—a concept where the leader is accountable only to God, effectively bypassing the democratic electorate.

2. Militant Christianity and "Godly Masculinity"

The rhetoric employed by figures like Pete Hegseth represents a departure from traditional American civil religion, moving toward a more militant, crusader-style theology.

• The Language of Holy War: Hegseth has publicly prayed for "clear and righteous targets for violence" and "overwhelming violence of action" against enemies, framing geopolitical conflicts (such as those involving Iran) as holy wars.
• Symbolism: Hegseth’s tattoo, "Deus Vult," serves as a direct link to the Crusades, signaling a worldview that views political and military conflict through a lens of religious necessity rather than secular policy.

3. J.D. Vance and the Intellectualization of Faith

J.D. Vance represents a different, more intellectualized approach to religion within the MAGA movement. Since his 2019 conversion to Catholicism, he has utilized his faith to challenge the status quo.

• Rejection of Liberalism: Vance frames his Catholicism as a direct response to the perceived failures of liberalism and the "elitist status quo." Unlike the traditional Catholicism of figures like Joe Biden or Nancy Pelosi, Vance’s faith is used to justify a more aggressive, anti-establishment political agenda.
• Theological Scolding: Vance has demonstrated a willingness to publicly criticize the Pope, signaling that his version of Catholicism is intended to serve his political framework rather than adhere to traditional ecclesiastical authority.

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Notable Statements and Evidence

• Pete Hegseth’s Misattribution: Hegseth famously quoted a line from the film Pulp Fiction while attempting to cite a Bible verse, highlighting the performative nature of some religious rhetoric within the movement.
• Trump’s Self-Assessment: Trump stated, "I think God is very proud of the job I’ve done," illustrating a shift from seeking God’s favor to claiming God’s endorsement of his specific policy outcomes.

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Synthesis and Conclusion

The MAGA movement is undergoing a significant transformation. While it began as a populist political coalition, it is increasingly becoming a movement grounded in a specific, militant, and often anti-liberal interpretation of Christianity.

The key takeaway is that the next generation of MAGA leadership—exemplified by J.D. Vance and Pete Hegseth—is moving beyond the transactional politics of the past. They are actively integrating faith into the core of their political identity, using religious language to justify the exercise of power, the use of force, and the rejection of liberal democratic norms. This suggests that the movement is evolving into a more cohesive, ideologically driven force where political goals are increasingly viewed as divine mandates.