Donald Trump, Bible Salesman
It seems amusing, but wrapping oneself in religion is a common authoritarian tactic.
Yes, Donald Trump is now selling Bibles. Not just any Bible, mind you, but one that includes copies of the U.S. Constitution and other founding documents, along with the pledge of allegiance, and the lyrics to “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood.
“All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many,” said Trump. “It’s my favorite book.”
So says Mr. Two Corinthians, who is actually not all that familiar with the Bible. Moreover, it’s been well-reported that, while Trump praises Christians and pastors in public, he routinely mocks them in private.
Former aides told me they’ve heard Trump ridicule conservative religious leaders, dismiss various faith groups with cartoonish stereotypes, and deride certain rites and doctrines held sacred by many of the Americans who constitute his base.
After Trump’s Bible infomercial appeared, Saturday Night Live, as you might imagine, had a few thoughts.
As did Stephen Colbert (appropriately sung to the tune of God Bless the USA).
But while it’s easy to roll one’s eyes at a presidential candidate selling God Bless the USA Bibles, there comes a point where it’s not so easy to laugh it off. This embrace of religion and religious symbols has become a central part of Trump’s presidential campaign strategy and his rallies. He promises to defend Christianity from those on the left who allegedly want to persecute Christians. And some of his supporters now suggest that Trump was literally handpicked by God to save America.
It’s all mildly amusing. Until it isn’t.
From one perspective, Trump’s professions of devoutness and his hawking of Bibles (not to mention gold sneakers) is all mildly amusing. Until it isn’t. Because this interweaving of religion and politics is a common authoritarian tactic:
When enough people perceive – or can be convinced – that traditional elements of the social fabric are at risk, religious signaling through the use of symbols and images can help would-be authoritarians cement their power. They present themselves as protectors of the faith and foes of any outsider who threatens tradition.
Benito Mussolini, for instance, was an atheist who used to criticize Catholicism, but after taking power in Italy in 1922 he attached himself to the Church, even requiring that crucifixes be placed in classrooms and courtrooms.
And today there are numerous examples of authoritarians who use religion to help maintain their grip on power.
Vladimir Putin in Russia? Yes.
Putin is a master at weaponizing religion to fulfill his personal ambitions to become the modern Czar and to advance the goals of Mother Russia.
Victor Orban in Hungary? Absolutely.
He used to describe his system as an “illiberal democracy”, but recently he has changed focus, preferring instead to call it a “Christian democracy”. The government’s messaging is still based around stopping immigration and protecting a “besieged” Europe from outsiders, but it now comes in increasingly Christian packaging.
President Erdogan in Turkey and Prime Minister Modi in India have also had success in using Islam and Hinduism, respectively, to win and maintain power. As one Turkish scholar said about his country today: “We are living with a government that is running on empty. The only thing in their inventory is to appeal to religion and nationalism.”
Not surprisingly, the Trumpian movement in the United States practically worships populist authoritarians abroad. There is, for starters, an unfathomable but growing embrace between Republicans and Putin’s Russia:
Trump and many other Republicans seem to feel ideological sympathies with Putin’s version of right-wing authoritarian nationalism.
And an infatuation with Orban’s Hungary:
Orbán has become an icon to some conservative populists for championing what he calls “illiberal democracy,” replete with restrictions on immigration and LGBTQ+ rights …
[H]e received a standing ovation at the CPAC conference in Texas after reading a paragraph from the Hungarian constitution, declaring marriage to be only between one man and one woman.
There is of course some amount of opposition in these countries to authoritarianism and to the manipulation of religion for political purposes. But the fact that these leaders have been able to win election after election (even when they’re not as stage-managed as they are in Russia) should give us pause. As should the fact that these leaders, once in power, have been able to rig the system to make it exceedingly difficult for their political opponents to win future elections.
It’s easy enough to refute the idea that the Founders intended for the U.S. government to be based on Christianity. But any discussion of American history or religious pluralism doesn’t go very far in combating a would-be-authoritarian who plays on emotions to wrap himself in both the flag AND the church.
So yes, go ahead and laugh at those late night comedy sketches that skewer Donald Trump for his alleged religiosity. But, at the same time, let’s not forget how serious this could all be for American democracy.
(Photo credit: Public domain photo via Wikimedia Commons.)