How could a Christian possibly support Donald Trump?
Short Answer: Hatred for Hillary Clinton
I hope and pray evangelicals don’t support Trump because of his racist, xenophobic, misogynist, lying, bullying, know-nothing, clearly anti-Jesus approach. I’ve heard many cite hatred for Hillary Clinton as a reason for support for Trump—and perhaps misogyny may be something evangelicals can live with.
Set aside Clinton’s pro-choice views and problems with truth-telling for a moment. Isn’t there something about Hillary Clinton taking leadership as a woman that galls evangelicals? Her leadership doesn’t fit the narrow evangelical reading of a woman’s role as servant and (even better) subservient.
But then the Proverbs 31 woman was an outlier, right?
Check out Sara Pulliam Bailey’s article on evangelical views on Hillary Clinton:
conversation is an engine 
Well, part of the problem is they can’t just “set aside” things like opposition to Roe v Wade, a litmus test since the days of Saint Reagan. Another is the presence of powerful myths and drives competing against their version of Christianity, including “You too can be a dumbass like me, but end up rich beyond your wildest dreams.” The attraction of the lie that wealth equals virtue is strong for the “poorly educated”.
Invisible Mikey
October 9, 2016 at 7:55 am
It’s a tough and saddening question. I’ve been wondering the same thing. It definitely could be misogyny, and that Hillary doesn’t fit into the evangelical narrative.
Trying to get inside the head of evangalical Trump supporters here are some other possibilities:
1) Fear? Trump’s narrative of a country in decline fits with the feeling of a moral decline that many evangelical Christians see. While I don’t think Trump is the answer, Hillary is definitely part of the mainstream and voting for him could be a reaction to that.
2) Tribe – when I was little I remember another kid who had a “Friends don’t let friends vote democrat” T-shirt. Somehow evangelical Christianity and the Republican party are merged together in many minds since often the two share common interests. Often republican leaders are evangelical Christians too. With this mindset I can understand settling with Trump because that’s who the Republican party nominated. A christian may think that they’ll vote for him even though his personal morals are repugnant because they want his supporters to vote for their candidate in the future. They may want to be loyal party members.
The election’s winding down now and soon the dust will settle. I’m most curious what will happen to the Republican party and evangelical christianity after this? Will this leave a mark? Will it change for better or for worse?
Isaac Livingston
October 10, 2016 at 8:29 am